Arizona’s next superintendent of public instruction will shape how hundreds of thousands of students are educated — from how teachers are recruited and retained to how public dollars flow to private schools. With the 2026 general election approaching, two candidates from very different backgrounds are making their case to lead the state’s education system.
Here is what voters need to know about each candidate running for Arizona superintendent of public instruction, as reported by KJZZ’s Camryn Sanchez. You can also watch a video overview of the candidates and consult the Arizona Voter Guide for additional election resources.
Teresa Leyba Ruiz — Democrat
Teresa Leyba Ruiz brings a career rooted in education to her first-ever run for public office. A former math teacher, she went on to serve as president of Glendale Community College before entering the political arena. In the Democratic primary, she defeated opponent Brett Newby by a wide margin, signaling strong support from within her party.
Ruiz’s campaign is centered on two major issues: strengthening oversight of the state’s private school voucher program and tackling Arizona’s ongoing teacher shortage. She supports adding more requirements to the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program, which allows families to use public funds for private school tuition, arguing that greater accountability is needed. On the teacher pipeline, she has identified the shortage as her top priority heading into office.
Voters can learn more about her platform at her campaign website, drruizforarizona.com. Ruiz has also faced scrutiny on the campaign trail — she is the subject of a complaint related to classroom campaign photo ops, with allegations that her campaign brought politics too close to Arizona schools.
Kimberly Yee — Republican
Kimberly Yee arrives at this race with a well-established record in Arizona government. Currently serving as state treasurer and a former state lawmaker, Yee made a significant move earlier this cycle by defeating incumbent Superintendent Tom Horne in the Republican primary.
Yee is a strong supporter of Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts voucher program — a position that puts her in contrast with her Democratic opponent. She has made improving student test scores her stated top priority. While she does not carry an endorsement from President Trump, she has backing from prominent conservative organizations, including Turning Point USA and the state Legislature’s far-right Freedom Caucus.
Earlier this year, Yee called attention to problems within the voucher program’s payment infrastructure, arguing that the school voucher payment platform must be improved to protect taxpayer dollars. More details about her campaign are available at kimberlyyee.com.
For the latest updates on this and other Arizona races, visit KJZZ’s elections coverage hub and browse topics including education and politics. Reporting for this story also draws on coverage by Wayne Schutsky and Bridget Dowd of KJZZ.
