Arizona Schools Chief Race Too Close to Call

Early returns put Teresa Leyba Ruiz ahead of Kimberly Yee by 56% to 44% in the contest to become Arizona’s next superintendent of public instruction. The figures emerged roughly an hour after voting ended on November 3, and the race remained too close to call.

The candidates are competing to succeed Republican Tom Horne, who lost to Yee in the GOP primary. The person elected will oversee Arizona’s education department and confront issues including the state’s school voucher program, a teacher shortage and financial pressures facing school districts.

Yee supports Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts voucher program and has said raising students’ test scores is her main priority. She has support from Turning Point USA, the Legislature’s Freedom Caucus and the No Labels Party, but does not have President Donald Trump’s endorsement.

Leyba Ruiz, running for office for the first time after serving as Glendale Community College president, supports adding requirements to the voucher program. She has identified addressing the teacher shortage as her top priority.

The outcome would also mark a first for the office: Yee would make history as Arizona’s first Asian American superintendent elected to the position, while Leyba Ruiz would claim the distinction of being its first Latina officeholder. Early returns do not yet determine which candidate will take the post.

Arizona Schools Race Puts Voucher Expansion in Focus

Arizona’s race for superintendent of public instruction is a choice between a candidate who wants more requirements for the state’s voucher program and one who supports it. Early returns on November 3 showed Democrat Teresa Leyba Ruiz ahead of Republican Kimberly Yee, 56% to 44%, but the contest remained too close to call.

Leyba Ruiz, a former Glendale Community College president and first-time candidate, says addressing the teacher shortage is her top priority. She supports adding requirements to Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, Arizona’s school voucher program. The next superintendent will also face financial pressures affecting school districts.

Yee, who defeated incumbent Republican Tom Horne in the primary, backs the voucher program and says improving student test scores is her main goal. Her supporters include Turning Point USA, the Legislature’s Freedom Caucus and the No Labels Party; President Donald Trump has not endorsed her.

The choice matters for the state Department of Education and its approach to vouchers, schools and teacher recruitment. Yet the early margin cannot settle the contest: the race was still too close to call. The winner will make history, with Yee potentially becoming the first Asian American elected to the role, or Leyba Ruiz the first Latina.

Yee’s School-Test Focus Faces Ruiz in Tight Arizona Race

Arizona voters are choosing between Republican Kimberly Yee, who supports the state’s school voucher program, and Democrat Teresa Leyba Ruiz, who wants to add requirements to it. Early results on November 3 gave Ruiz a 56% to 44% lead, but the superintendent’s race remained too close to call.

Yee says her main priority is improving students’ test scores. She defeated incumbent Tom Horne in the Republican primary and has backing from Turning Point USA, the Legislature’s Freedom Caucus and the No Labels Party. President Donald Trump has not endorsed her.

Ruiz, who is seeking elected office for the first time and formerly headed Glendale Community College, says addressing the teacher shortage is her top priority. Her support for more voucher-program requirements puts the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts at the center of a consequential choice for the next head of the Arizona Department of Education.

The winner will also face a teacher shortage and financial pressures confronting school districts. The early returns do not establish a winner. Either candidate would make history: Yee would become Arizona’s first Asian American superintendent elected to the post, while Ruiz would be the first Latina to serve in the position.