Barrera seeks California superintendent post in 2026 race

Richard Andrew Barrera, a San Diego Unified School Board member since 2008, is running for California Superintendent of Public Instruction in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. The nonpartisan race also includes Sonja Shaw.

The superintendent oversees the California Department of Education, which sets policy for public schools statewide.

Candidate information

Name: Richard Andrew Barrera
Party: Nonpartisan
Education: Bachelor's degree in history, University of California, San Diego; master's degree in public policy, Harvard University
Personal: First-generation San Diegan whose father immigrated from Colombia and whose grandparents immigrated through Ellis Island. Graduate of El Cajon Valley High School.

Experience and public service

Barrera has served on the San Diego Unified School Board representing District D since 2008, according to his district biography. He has also served as board president. In 2022, the San Diego County School Boards Association named him School Board Member of the Year.

In 2024, Barrera served as deputy superintendent and senior policy adviser at the California Department of Education. He previously worked as secretary-treasurer of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council and as a community and labor organizer.

On the issues

Barrera's policy positions below come from responses he submitted through BallotReady, posted on his campaign priorities page, and his candidate statement filed with the California Secretary of State.

School funding: Barrera said he wants long-term investment in public schools rather than short-term fixes. He said he would lead a statewide effort to increase education funding, hold the federal government accountable for meeting obligations to programs like special education and help local districts pass their own funding measures.

Student mental health: Barrera said students cannot learn if they do not feel safe and supported. He called for expanding access to school counselors and mental health services, placing peer counseling programs in every high school and making social-emotional learning a core priority beyond test scores.

Teacher recruitment and housing: Barrera said too many teachers are leaving the profession. He proposed expanding paid apprenticeships for future teachers, covering tuition for those who commit to teaching in California public schools and strengthening partnerships between districts and higher education. He also called for helping districts secure funding to build workforce housing for teachers and school staff.

Equity and access: Barrera said every high school should offer college-prep courses so no student finds out too late they lack the classes needed to apply to a four-year university. He also called for expanding career and technical education, apprenticeships, dual-language immersion programs and protections for LGBTQ students.

Endorsements

The following endorsements were claimed by the endorsers. Sources include the California Secretary of State's Official Voter Information Guide and BallotReady profile data.