LOS ANGELES — The SEIU California State Council, which represents 750,000 school and university employees, nurses, health care workers, janitors, social workers, in-home caregivers, and more, today announced its endorsement of former Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon’s run for California Superintendent of Public Instruction.

“Anthony Rendon knows that you cannot have a strong economy without a strong workforce, and you cannot have a strong democracy without strong public education. While others hesitated, he helped solidify a legislative supermajority dedicated to progress,” said SEIU California President David Huerta. “Throughout his career, he has been an outspoken champion for all students regardless of their immigration status. Now, as we build a pro-democracy agenda to push back against attacks on our freedoms, we are proud to stand with a leader who has always stood with workers.”

SEIU California joins a number of statewide unions – including the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, Teamsters California and California State Council of Laborers – that have endorsed Rendon in the SPI race.

“California's schools, colleges, and universities wouldn't function without the hardworking members of SEIU,” said Anthony Rendon. “I'm deeply grateful for the trust that SEIU California has placed in me, and I'm committed to working alongside them to ensure that every child in California has access to the high-quality public education they deserve.”

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. 

###