California’s top education official, Tony Thurmond, on Tuesday announced his bid for governor in 2026, a move that comes amid debates about the rights of students and parents, and what role the state should play as school boards approve class materials.
If elected, Thurmond, the state superintendent of public instruction, would be the first Black person to become California's governor. He says he wants to address income inequality, ensure schools are better funded and speed up the state's transition to renewable energy. “Our campaign isn't about any one person. It's about people who are struggling across our state,” the Democrat said in an advertisement announcing his campaign. “California should be a place where everyone has a chance to succeed.”
He joins an already crowded race for governor, though the election is more than three years away. California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and former state Controller Betty Yee, both Democrats, have also announced their own bids, and Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta said he is considering joining the race.Sign up for NBC LA newsletters.
Thurmond has become involved recently in several debates over school board policies, and he was kicked out of a Southern California school board meeting over the summer for opposing a policy to require school staff to notify parents if their child changes their pronouns or gender identity. Bonta sued the Chino Valley district over the policy, saying it discriminated against students. A judge then halted the policy while the litigation plays out.