Teresa Leyba Ruiz won the primary and is the party's nominee for the general election. Won the July 21, 2026 Democratic primary for Superintendent of Public Instruction with 79.5% of the vote over Brett Newby. Faces Republican nominee Kimberly Yee in the November 3, 2026 general election.
Source: kold.com · Last verified: October 23, 2026
Next steps
Keep exploring
Statement
Her platform includes increasing transparency and accountability, protecting taxpayer dollars, stabilizing the teacher workforce, upholding high academic standards with strong support systems, and expanding post-secondary education and training pathways. As a former community college president and nonprofit executive, Dr. Ruiz understands the importance of transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility when managing budgets and is committed to protecting taxpayer dollars being spent on non-educational materials. Having spoken to educators across all 15 counties, she plans on supporting her fellow teachers through professional development, support systems, and advocacy for higher wages. As Superintendent, Dr. Ruiz will work to enhance student systems that promote academic excellence while expanding career opportunities and pathways for students across the state. She believes that when our schools succeed, our state succeeds.
Biography
Dr. Teresa Leyba Ruiz, a native Arizonan and first-generation college graduate, has worked in education for 35 years as a math teacher, president of Glendale Community College, and nonprofit executive. She has served on the Glendale Chamber of Commerce and WestMarc boards and on national commissions advising the president on education policy. Ruiz opposes the universal expansion of Empowerment Scholarship Accounts and says she would audit the program, require academic accountability and reporting for schools and families receiving ESA money, and end the automatic approval of purchases under $2,000. She identifies the teacher shortage as the state's top education problem and supports school resource officers at schools that want them, while letting others use those resources for counselors and social workers. Ruiz won the July 21, 2026 Democratic primary with 79.5% of the vote over Brett Newby and faces Republican Kimberly Yee in the November 3, 2026 general election.
Past offices held
Positions
Issue Stances
Water Policy
No official stance on record.
Education Funding
SupportsRuiz opposes universal ESA expansion and says she would audit the program, require academic accountability and reporting from schools and families receiving ESA money, and end automatic approval of purchases under $2,000. She calls the teacher shortage the top issue and supports higher teacher pay and more public school funding.
"Public dollars demand public accountability"
Border Security & Immigration
No official stance on record.
Housing Affordability
No official stance on record.
Election Integrity
No official stance on record.
Healthcare Access
SupportsRuiz proposes placing more mental-health professionals in schools, expanding free and reduced lunch programs, and broadening student support services.
Public Safety & Criminal Justice
SupportsRuiz supports school resource officers at schools that want them, but says schools that prefer to spend those resources on counselors and social workers should be allowed to do so.
Energy Policy
No official stance on record.
Economic Development & Jobs
SupportsRuiz backs stronger Career and Technical Education and dual enrollment pathways, explicitly linking school policy to Arizona workforce development.
Reproductive Rights
No official stance on record.
Transportation & Infrastructure
No official stance on record.
Government Spending & Taxation
SupportsRuiz anchors her fiscal message in taxpayer transparency, ESA spending dashboards, stronger audits, and shifting education dollars back toward public schools and away from ESA programs.
Legislature
Legislative Voting Record
No voting record on file.
Voting records are only available for candidates who have held legislative office.
Ballot
Ballot Measure Stances
No ballot measure stances on file yet.
Coverage