Richard Barrera runs for California schools superintendent

Richard Andrew Barrera, a longtime San Diego Unified School Board member, is running for California Superintendent of Public Instruction in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The nonpartisan race also includes Sonja Shaw. Newport Beach voters will see this statewide race on their ballot.

Candidate information

Party: Nonpartisan
Education: Bachelor's degree in history, University of California, San Diego; master's degree in public policy, Harvard University
Hometown roots: First-generation San Diegan whose father immigrated from Colombia and whose grandparents immigrated through Ellis Island
High school: El Cajon Valley High School
Recognition: Named School Board Member of the Year by the San Diego County School Boards Association in 2022

Experience and public service

Barrera has served on the San Diego Unified School Board representing District D since 2008 and has served as board president, according to the California Secretary of State's voter guide. He worked as secretary-treasurer at the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council and as a community and labor organizer, according to his San Diego Unified biography. In 2024 he served as deputy superintendent and senior policy adviser at the California Department of Education.

On the issues

Barrera's policy positions below are drawn from his campaign priorities page and BallotReady questionnaire responses.

School funding: Barrera said he wants to lead a statewide effort to increase education funding and hold the federal government accountable for meeting obligations to programs like special education. He said he also wants to help local districts organize and pass their own funding measures.

Teacher recruitment and housing: Barrera said 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 are priorities. He also called for helping districts secure funding to build workforce housing for teachers and school staff.

Student mental health: Barrera said he wants to expand access to school counselors and mental health services and place peer counseling programs in every high school. He said schools should make social-emotional learning a core priority alongside academic measures.

College and career 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 and vocational training.

Inclusion and equity: Barrera said he supports protecting the rights of LGBTQ students, expanding dual-language immersion programs and ensuring career pathways reach every student regardless of background.