LOS ANGELES — AFSCME California and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) are endorsing former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon’s run for California Superintendent of Public Instruction. This comes as Rendon also won the dual endorsement of the California Federation of Labor Unions earlier this week.

“Few leaders have advanced the wellbeing of kids like Anthony Rendon has throughout two decades in early childhood education and 12 years in the Assembly – including historic investments in every level of education during his tenure as Speaker of the Assembly,” said Matthew Maldonado, Chair of AFSCME California PEOPLE. “He knows how to get things done for the people who need it the most, and that’s why AFSCME California PEOPLE is so pleased to endorse his campaign for Superintendent of Public Instruction.”

“No one goes to bat for working families like Anthony Rendon – fighting for what they need to succeed in this economy and ensuring every child gets the quality public education they deserve,” said Amber Parrish, executive director of UFCW Western States Council. “As Speaker, he was always there for the people scratching and clawing to make it. We know he'll continue to be a champion for them as California's next Superintendent of Public Instruction.”

AFSCME California, UFCW, and California Federation of Labor Unions join a flood of statewide labor groups – including SEIU California, United Brotherhood of Carpenters, Teamsters California, California State Council of Laborers, California Professional Firefighters, and California State Association of Electrical Workers – that have endorsed Rendon in the SPI race.

About Anthony Rendon

Rendon spent two decades running preschool and early childhood education programs across the state. As executive director of Plaza de la Raza Child Development Services, he oversaw programs serving more than 2,300 children across 35 child development centers located throughout Los Angeles County, providing comprehensive early education, health, and family support services to underserved communities.

Later, Rendon pivoted to politics – motivated to run for the state legislature to reverse severe budget cuts to early childhood education programs imposed during Governor Schwarzenegger’s tenure. In 2012, he won a seat representing Southeast Los Angeles County in the Assembly and in 2016 was elected by his colleagues to serve as Speaker of the Assembly.

As Speaker from 2016 to 2023, Rendon led during a historic time for California’s schools. He negotiated state budgets that increased K-12 investments by 80%, shepherded groundbreaking legislation to strengthen transparency and accountability for charter schools, increased access to early childhood education by helping to create universal pre-k, and worked to maintain California’s role as a national leader in higher education. 

Rendon lives in Southeast Los Angeles County, where his daughter attends a local public school.

Learn more about Rendon’s campaign at anthonyrendon.org. 

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