Anthony Rendon

Office sought: Superintendent of Public Instruction
Party: No Party Preference
Ballot designation: Former Assembly speaker

Background

Biography. Rendon earned his B.A. and M.A. at California State University, Fullerton, in 1991 and 1992, respectively. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of California, Riverside, in 2000 and completed his post-doctoral work at Boston University in 2001. His career experience includes working as the COO for the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation, as the interim executive director of the California League of Conservation Voters, and as the executive director of Plaza de la Raza Child Development Services, Inc. [1] [2]

Prior offices and election history

2026

See also: California Superintendent of Public Instruction election, 2026 General election The primary will occur on June 2, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary. The candidate list in this election may not be complete. Nonpartisan primary Nonpartisan primary election for California Superintendent of Public Instruction The following candidates are running in the primary for California Superintendent of Public Instruction on June 2, 2026. Candidate Richard Barrera (Nonpartisan) Wendy Castaneda Leal (Nonpartisan) Nichelle Henderson (Nonpartisan) Frank Lara (Nonpartisan) Ainye Long (Nonpartisan) Gus Mattammal (Nonpartisan) Al Muratsuchi (Nonpartisan) Josh Newman (Nonpartisan) Anthony Rendon (Nonpartisan) Sonja Shaw (Nonpartisan) There are no incumbents in this race. = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. Withdrawn or disqualified candidates Andra Hoffman (Nonpartisan) Jeff Maffly (Nonpartisan)

2026 — Endorsements

Rendon received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Rendon’s endorsements as published by their campaign, click here . To send us additional endorsements, click here . CalMatters Voter Guide (Sway voting group by CalMatters) California Environmental Voters’ Voting Group (Sway voting group by California Environmental Voters) California Faculty Association’s Voting Group (Sway voting group by California Faculty Association) California Labor Federation’s Voting Group (Sway voting group by California Labor Federation) California Professional Firefighters’ Voting Group (Sway voting group by California Professional Firefighters) Edwin M. Lee Asian Pacific Democratic Club’s Voting Group (Sway voting group by Edwin M. Lee Asian Pacific Democratic Club) Fullerton Observer’s Voting Group (Sway voting group by Fullerton Observer) Northern California Carpenters Regional Council’s Voting Group (Sway voting group by Northern California Carpenters Regional Council) SEIU California’s Voting Group (Sway voting group by SEIU California) SEIU Local 1021’s Voting Group (Sway voting group by SEIU Local 1021) SEIU Local 521’s Voting Group (Sway voting group by SEIU Local 521) SEIU Local 99’s Voting Group (Sway voting group by SEIU Local 99) SEIU-UHW’s Voting Group (Sway voting group by SEIU-UHW) Teamsters Joint Council 7’s Voting Group (Sway voting group by Teamsters Joint Council 7) UFCW Western States Council’s Voting Group (Sway voting group by UFCW Western States Council) Union Yes San Diego’s Voting Group (Sway voting group by Union Yes San Diego) Vote For Peace’s Voting Group (Sway voting group by Vote For Peace)

2024

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2024 Anthony Rendon did not file to run for re-election.

2022

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2022 General election General election for California State Assembly District 62 Incumbent Anthony Rendon defeated Maria Estrada in the general election for California State Assembly District 62 on November 8, 2022. Candidate % Votes ✔ Anthony Rendon (D) 63.9 39,442 Maria Estrada (D) 36.1 22,285 Incumbents are bolded and underlined . The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 61,727 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. Nonpartisan primary election Nonpartisan primary for California State Assembly District 62 Incumbent Anthony Rendon and Maria Estrada advanced from the primary for California State Assembly District 62 on June 7, 2022. Candidate % Votes ✔ Anthony Rendon (D) 67.0 24,003 ✔ Maria Estrada (D) 33.0 11,826 Incumbents are bolded and underlined . The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 35,829 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2020

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2020 General election General election for California State Assembly District 63 Incumbent Anthony Rendon defeated Maria Estrada in the general election for California State Assembly District 63 on November 3, 2020. Candidate % Votes ✔ Anthony Rendon (D) 53.7 71,460 Maria Estrada (D) 46.3 61,611 Incumbents are bolded and underlined . The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 133,071 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. Nonpartisan primary election Nonpartisan primary for California State Assembly District 63 Incumbent Anthony Rendon and Maria Estrada advanced from the primary for California State Assembly District 63 on March 3, 2020. Candidate % Votes ✔ Anthony Rendon (D) 58.0 32,471 ✔ Maria Estrada (D) 42.0 23,481 Incumbents are bolded and underlined . The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 55,952 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2018 General election General election for California State Assembly District 63 Incumbent Anthony Rendon defeated Maria Estrada in the general election for California State Assembly District 63 on November 6, 2018. Candidate % Votes ✔ Anthony Rendon (D) 54.3 49,367 Maria Estrada (D) 45.7 41,626 Incumbents are bolded and underlined . The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 90,993 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. Nonpartisan primary election Nonpartisan primary for California State Assembly District 63 Incumbent Anthony Rendon and Maria Estrada defeated Adam Miller in the primary for California State Assembly District 63 on June 5, 2018. Candidate % Votes ✔ Anthony Rendon (D) 46.6 18,047 ✔ Maria Estrada (D) 29.1 11,252 Adam Miller (R) 24.3 9,419 Incumbents are bolded and underlined . The results have been certified. Total votes: 38,718 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2016 Elections for the California State Assembly took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 25, 2016, for candidates filing with signatures. The deadline for candidates using a filing fee to qualify was March 11, 2016. [3] Incumbent Anthony Rendon defeated Adam J. Miller in the California State Assembly District 63 general election. [4] [5] California State Assembly, District 63 General Election, 2016 Party Candidate Vote % Votes Democratic Anthony Rendon Incumbent 77.63% 89,134 Republican Adam J. Miller 22.37% 25,680 Total Votes 114,814 Source: California Secretary of State Incumbent Anthony Rendon and Adam J. Miller were unopposed in the California State Assembly District 63 Blanket primary. [6] [7] California State Assembly, District 63 Blanket Primary, 2016 Party Candidate Democratic Anthony Rendon Incumbent Republican Adam J. Miller

2014

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2014 Elections for the California State Assembly took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014 . The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 7, 2014. Incumbent Anthony Rendon (D) and Adam J. Miller (R) were unopposed in the blanket primary. Rendon defeated Miller in the general election. [8] [9] [10] California State Assembly, District 63, General Election, 2014 Party Candidate Vote % Votes Democratic Anthony Rendon Incumbent 69.1% 28,544 Republican Adam J. Miller 30.9% 12,781 Total Votes 41,325

2012

See also: California State Assembly elections, 2012 Rendon won election in the 2012 election for California State Assembly District 63. He advanced past the blanket primary on June 5, 2012, defeating Diane Janet Martinez (D) and Cathrin Sargent (D). Rendon defeated Jack Guerrero (R) in the general election on November 6, 2012. [11] [12] [13] California State Assembly, District 63, General Election, 2012 Party Candidate Vote % Votes Democratic Anthony Rendon 74.5% 76,258 Republican Jack M. Guerrero 25.5% 26,093 Total Votes 102,351 California State Assembly, District 63 Blanket Primary, 2012 Party Candidate Vote % Votes Democratic Diane Janet Martinez 25.3% 5,833 Democratic Anthony Rendon 38% 8,776 Democratic Cathrin Sargent 6.3% 1,460 Republican Jack Guerrero 30.4% 7,017 Total Votes 23,086

Issue positions (campaign themes)

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses See also: Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection Anthony Rendon completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Rendon’s responses. Expand all | Collapse all Who are you? Tell us about yourself. California’s public education system changed my life. I wasn’t a good student in high school. I barely graduated and went on to work in warehouses. But I discovered a passion for learning at community college, graduated from Cal State Fullerton, and earned a Ph.D. at UC Riverside. Ultimately, I became Speaker of the State Assembly—one of the top public officials in California—a meaningful accomplishment for the grandson of Mexican immigrants. I’m running for Superintendent of Public Instruction to continue a lifelong mission of offering every child, regardless of background, access to high-quality public education. When I ran early childhood education programs for underprivileged kids, I saw the devastating impacts of state budget cuts. So as Assembly Speaker I increased education funding by 50 percent, then enacted the nations strongest education oversight laws, and successfully stood up to the Trump Administration to protect our schools and civil rights. Today, schools need not only more investment but real reform. Our schools should be focused on the core skills kids need to succeed. We should be wary of technology overload that undermines students’ ability to learn and thrive. Collaborative leadership between parents, educators, and schools is essential to establishing proper guardrails around classroom technology. Students should have fewer distractions in class. Teachers shouldn’t compete with billion-dollar tech algorithms to teach the basics Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? Building a cradle-to-career education system Before I served in the Assembly, I spent two decades in early education, where I saw firsthand how much children and families depend on state preschool programs. I also convened the Blue Ribbon Commission on Early Childhood Education as Speaker, and I’ll use its recommendations to guide my work in overhauling and strengthening California’s early education system. My priority is to break down the silos between early education, K–12, and higher education so that California builds a true cradle-to-career approach where students don’t fall through the cracks at critical transitions in their education journey. Tackling the youth mental health crisis by addressing technology in the classroom I’ve studied the alarming decline in youth happiness and rise in emotional distress, especially among young women, and I know technology plays a major role in it. Phones and social media have harmed both learning and student well-being, and now AI tools risk undermining the development of critical thinking skills. As SPI, I will work with educators to establish clear policies on how smartphones and generative AI are used in schools — ensuring these tools enhance learning rather than erode it — and I’ll make sure teachers have the training and resources they need to help students thrive. Defending California schools from Donald Trump Donald Trump and his allies have already proposed eliminating Head Start and abolishing the U.S. Department of Education — actions that would be catastrophic for California’s children. As Speaker during Trump’s first term, I’ve stood up to the MAGA agenda before, and I’ll do it again. As Superintendent, I’ll be a firewall between our schools and whatever chaos comes out of Washington, ensuring California continues to invest in and protect its students, educators, and future. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Early Childhood education has been a passion of mine. I ran head start and similar programs for 20 years. It was the cuts to these programs during the Schwarzenegger administration that inspired me to get involved in public service. What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign? AFSCME California People California and Nevada State Association of Electrical Workers California Association of Psychiatric Technicians California Federation of Labor Unions California Latino Legislative Caucus California Professional Firefighters California State Council of Laborers SEIU California SEIU Local 99 SEIU 121 RN SEIU 221 SEIU 521 SEIU 721 SEIU 1000 SEIU 1021 SEIU 2015 SEIU CIR California Faculty Association California State University Employees Union SEIU UHW SEIU USWW Teamsters California UFCW Western States Council United Brotherhood of Carpenters United Nurses Association of California Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis Congressman Pete Aguilar Congresswoman Judy Chu Congresswoman Laura Friedman Congressman Robert Garcia Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate’s campaign requests it.

2022

Anthony Rendon did not complete Ballotpedia’s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Anthony Rendon did not complete Ballotpedia’s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2012

Rendon’s campaign website listed the following issues: Safe Neighborhoods Excerpt: “I believe that we cannot afford any further cuts to our public safety and that we need to work on finding new, steady streams of revenue to adequately fund programs that keep our neighborhoods safe.” Environment Excerpt: “Threats to our natural resources and our environment are a cause for serious concern in California and across the country. I understand the importance of state and local leaders working together to protect the environment.” Healthcare Excerpt: “Millions cannot afford health care or know someone who cannot afford health care. Countless others have been denied health care coverage because of a pre-existing condition.” Jobs and Economic Recovery Excerpt: “I believe that investing in working families through education and effective job training is essential to economic recovery. I will support policies which make certain that well-paying jobs are created and stay in California so that families and small businesses can thrive and prosper. That’s why I am supported by local small business leaders and the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.” Education Excerpt: “As an educator and children’s nonprofit director, I know firsthand that a quality education is the foundation for a brighter future for our children. Local communities must have the resources they need to provide the highest quality education possible. I believe that quality schools and colleges are essential for economic recovery and I will fight to decrease college tuition and smaller class sizes for K-12 schools.”

Committee assignments

Committee assignments

2023-2024 Rendon was assigned to the following committees: Rules Committee Arts Committee , Chair 2021-2022 Rendon was assigned to the following committees: Arts Committee Rules Committee 2019-2020 Rendon was assigned to the following committees: Arts Committee Rules Committee

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees: California committee assignments, 2017 • Rules

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Rendon served on the following committees: California committee assignments, 2015 • Appropriations • Natural Resources • Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security • Utilities and Commerce , Chair • Water, Parks and Wildlife

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Rendon served on the following committees: California committee assignments, 2013 • Budget • Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security • Utilities and Commerce • Water, Parks and Wildlife , Chair • Legislative Audit

Enrichment source: Ballotpedia — https://ballotpedia.org/Anthony_Rendon

Sources

• CalMatters 2026 Voter Guide
• Ballotpedia (enrichment, when available)