Former California Assembly Speaker Rendon Announces Run for State Superintendent

Former California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon has officially launched his campaign for the state's Superintendent of Public Instruction, aiming to address youth mental health, early childhood education, and protect schools from federal policies under the Trump administration that threaten education funding. Rendon, with over two decades of experience in early childhood education and a significant political career including serving as Assembly speaker, emphasizes the need for thoughtful leadership on issues like student mental health challenges exacerbated by smartphones and social media, and the responsible integration of generative AI tools in schools. He advocates for a holistic, cradle-to-career education system to prevent students from falling through gaps created by fragmented school systems. Rendon also supports policies that respect and protect transgender students, opposing federal attempts to interfere with California's inclusive education laws. His campaign follows his recent exit from the Assembly due to term limits and reflects his commitment to reengage in education leadership, motivated by both personal and political factors. The race to succeed term-limited Tony Thurmond includes several candidates, with the primary scheduled for June 2 and a likely runoff in November.