Former Assembly Speaker’s Announcement Garnered News Coverage, New Endorsements from Across the State

LOS ANGELES — Anthony Rendon’s run for California Superintendent of Public Instruction made waves with ten news outlets covering the campaign launch. Highlights of the press coverage is below.

Additionally, Rendon was endorsed by the following public officials since the launch:

• Congresswoman Laura Friedman

• Assemblymember Alex Lee

• Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath

• Goleta Councilmember James Kyriaco

• Maywood Councilmember Eddie De La Riva

• Goleta Union School District Board Member Ethan Bertrand

• Los Alamitos Unified School District Board Member Matt Bragman

• Lynwood Unified School District Board Member Dr. Alma Castro

Politico: Anthony Rendon enters superintendent’s race

Anthony Rendon, a labor-connected Democrat with deep ties to Sacramento and its early childhood education sphere, is running for state schools superintendent. [...]

He held the most powerful political office of anyone in the state superintendent’s field and argued in the interview that his experience negotiating state budgets with Govs. Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom could help him break through in a field teeming with Democratic elected officials. [...]

Campaign stockpile: Rendon will start the race with close to $900,000 on hand.

Orange County Register: Former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon jumps into race for state superintendent

Before his time in the legislature, Anthony Rendon worked for a social services agency in Los Angeles County, helping first-time offenders and at-risk youth. 

He began to notice: Families that took advantage of the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation’s childcare programs tended not to have kids who made it upstairs to his department. Rendon said he quickly realized the best way to end cycles of poverty and gang involvement was to make sure youth had access to educational opportunities — a way out. 

And so began Rendon’s two-decade career in early childhood education. Now, more than 20 years after that realization, the former California legislator is officially running to be California’s Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2026.

KCRA: Former California Speaker Anthony Rendon announces bid for Superintendent of Public Instruction

Sacramento Bee: Former California Democratic leader plans a political comeback

But before he entered politics, Rendon spent two decades running preschool and early education programs that largely served low-income families. The Los Angeles native said Schwarzenegger-era cuts to these programs prompted him to run for office. 

Now, he’s motivated by the Trump administration’s moves to gut the federal Department of Education and hold back money for schools. 

“There’s a likelihood that the California Department of Education will be the most relevant education department in the entire country,” Rendon said in an interview. “I want to make sure that it not only educates California kids at the highest level, but also that it’s a model for other states.” 

EdSource: Former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon joins race for state schools chief

Former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon announced Monday he will run for California’s superintendent of public instruction — with a special focus on student mental health, early childhood programs and protecting state schools from federal actions. 

“It was cuts to education programs during the Schwarzenegger Administration that first drove me into politics. After my time in the Assembly, having the opportunity to serve California’s students, educators, and families feels like a return to my roots,” Rendon said in a statement Monday. “Over the course of this campaign, I’ll be making the case for why my experience, proven leadership, and unshakeable belief in the life changing power of education make me the best person to lead California’s schools into the future.”

CalMatters: As Trump takes on education, candidates line up for state’s top schools job

Rendon, a Democrat from Lakewood, spent 12 years in the Legislature, the last eight as speaker. While he was speaker, the state nearly doubled its K-12 funding and introduced a new grade, transitional kindergarten – a particular priority for Rendon, who started his career as an early education administrator. 

A former UC regent, Rendon said he’d try to protect California schools from Trump’s policies, particularly those related to immigration, but also work at the state level to advocate for more funding and accountability. 

“California has the best public universities in the world,” Rendon said. “We need to have the best K-12 schools in the world, too.”

Nexstar: Anthony Rendon announces new campaign

City News Service: Former Assembly Speaker Rendon declares candidacy for state superintendent

Former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon Monday announced his candidacy for state Superintendent of Public Instruction, pledging if elected to confront “the youth mental health crisis” and develop policies on the use of generative artificial intelligence tools in schools. 

“We can’t ignore the reality: phones and social media have harmed both learning and student wellbeing,” Rendon said in a statement. “And now, AI tools are allowing students to bypass developing the critical thinking skills they need for life.” [...]

Rendon also pledged to create “a cradle-to-career approach” in education “that breaks down silos and builds a coherent education system.” 

“When systems don’t talk to each other, kids fall through the cracks,” Rendon said.

San Joaquin Valley Sun: Former Speaker Anthony Rendon to run for State Superintendent

While Rendon is joining a crowded field for the race, he is arguably the well-known candidate a year out from the election.

Capitol Public Radio

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 local public schools.

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

###