Ruiz wins Arizona education race with 138,000-vote margin

Teresa Leyba Ruiz secured the top education post in Arizona on Thursday night, defeating Republican Kimberly Yee in a race that drew statewide attention. The Associated Press called the election at 8:50 p.m., when Ruiz held a lead of more than 138,000 votes. She is the first Latina to serve as Arizona superintendent of public instruction.

Ruiz ran against Yee on a platform focused on fiscal oversight and structural changes to state education policy. During the campaign, the former president of Glendale Community College pledged to limit the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program. She proposed ending the automatic approval of expenditures for $2,000 or less and requiring private schools that accept voucher funds to meet the same accountability standards as public institutions.

The candidate also campaigned on eliminating the Empower Hotline, a system that allows anonymous complaints about teachers. A state audit released in May found that the voucher program lacked sufficient oversight and resulted in wasteful spending. Ruiz supported full funding for full-day kindergarten as part of her proposed budget priorities.

In a written statement issued before the race was officially called, Ruiz reflected on her time in the classroom. “I began this campaign while teaching a math class for returning adult learners. A year and a half, 15 counties, and countless miles later, I am humbled and honored to be Arizona’s next Superintendent of Public Instruction,” she said. “I ran because I was fed up, because I believed our students deserved more, and because I knew we could do better. A new chapter for public education in Arizona begins now. I hope you’ll write it with me.”

Ruiz is a third-generation Arizonan who grew up in south Phoenix. She attended college as a first-generation student before moving into higher education administration. Her background as a longtime educator shaped her approach to the campaign, which spanned 15 counties.

The incoming superintendent faces immediate operational challenges. School districts in the state are dealing with a teacher shortage and a growing financial crisis. She will also oversee the integration of artificial intelligence tools into classrooms. These issues will define the early months of her administration.

The election result marks a shift in leadership for the state’s public education system. Ruiz takes over from a predecessor whose tenure saw increased scrutiny of voucher spending and district budgets. The race concluded with a clear mandate for the changes she outlined during the campaign.