2018 California Superintendent of Public Instruction election explained

Election Name:2018 California Superintendent of Public Instruction election
Country:California
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2014 California Superintendent of Public Instruction election
Previous Year:2014
Next Election:2022 California Superintendent of Public Instruction election
Next Year:2022
Election Date:June 5, 2018 (first round)
November 6, 2018 (runoff)
1Blank:First round
2Blank:Runoff
Image1:File:Assemblymember Tony Thurmond (cropped).jpg
Candidate1:Tony Thurmond
Color1:c0c0c0
1Data1:2,136,919
35.6%
2Data1:5,385,912
50.9%
Candidate2:Marshall Tuck
Color2:c0c0c0
1Data2:2,223,784
37.0%
2Data2:5,198,738
49.1%
Candidate4:Lily Ploski
Color4:c0c0c0
1Data4:984,932
16.4%
2Data4:Eliminated
Candidate5:Steven Ireland
Color5:c0c0c0
1Data5:658,786
11.0%
2Data5:Eliminated
SPI
Map Size:300px
Before Election:Tom Torlakson
After Election:Tony Thurmond

The 2018 California Superintendent of Public Instruction primary election was held on June 5, 2018, to elect the Superintendent of Public Instruction of California. Unlike most other elections in California, the superintendent is not elected under the state's "top-two primary". Instead, the officially nonpartisan position is elected via a general election, with a runoff held on November 6, 2018, because no candidate received a majority of the vote.

The previous incumbent, Superintendent Tom Torlakson, was term-limited, so could not seek a third term. As no candidate received a majority in the general election, a runoff was held between two Democrats: Marshall Tuck and Tony Thurmond. Thurmond narrowly defeated Tuck.

General election

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Results

Runoff

Candidates

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Tony
Thurmond
Marshall
Tuck
Undecided
UC BerkeleyOctober 19–26, 20181,339± 4.0%36% align=center48%16%
Thomas Partners StrategiesOctober 18–20, 20181,068± 3.5%35% align=center37%28%
Thomas Partners StrategiesOctober 5–7, 20181,068± 3.5%28% align=center30% align=center41%
Thomas Partners StrategiesSeptember 28–30, 20181,068± 3.5%17% align=center29% align=center54%

Results

See also

External links

Official campaign websites

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2018 certified list of candidates. elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov. 2 March 2023.
  2. News: Lily E. Ploski Announces Bid for California State Superintendent of Public Instruction 2018. 2017-12-26. 2018-04-17. en.
  3. Web site: Marshall Tuck running again for California schools chief: 'We've settled for mediocrity'. The Sacramento Bee. Koseff. Alexei. March 13, 2017. April 4, 2017.
  4. Web site: 2018 certified list of candidates. elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov. 2 March 2023.
  5. Two NASA Engineers Try Out Politics. The New Yorker. Holloway. Marguerite. March 27, 2017. April 4, 2017.
  6. Web site: Tony Thurmond enters schools chief race pledging to fight Trump on education funding. Koseff. Alexei. April 3, 2017. The Sacramento Bee. April 4, 2017.