News Summary
Arizona State Treasurer Kimberly Yee has officially declared her candidacy for the Republican nomination for Superintendent of Public Instruction, challenging the current officeholder, Tom Horne. With a background as the first Asian American in a statewide office in Arizona, Yee aims to enhance educational opportunities and promote school choice. Her campaign comes amid criticism of Horne’s management of the Empowerment Scholarship Account program and seeks to resonate with both conservative factions and a broader voter base as she prepares for the primary election.
Phoenix, Arizona – Arizona State Treasurer Kimberly Yee has officially announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination for Superintendent of Public Instruction in the 2026 election, challenging incumbent Tom Horne. This declaration, made on May 28, 2025, marks a crucial step in Yee’s political career as she shifts focus from her previous role as state treasurer, a position she can no longer hold due to state term limits.
Yee, who made history as the first Asian American to occupy a statewide office in Arizona, was elected as the state treasurer in 2018 and successfully secured re-election in 2022 after withdrawing from the gubernatorial race. Her experience also includes serving as the first Asian American woman in the Arizona state legislature from 2010 to 2018.
The campaign for the Superintendency comes amid increasing dissatisfaction among state leaders, including some Republicans, over Horne’s management of the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program. This program, which allocates approximately $1 billion annually to allow parents to use public funds for private and charter school tuition as well as certain educational expenses for homeschoolers, has faced scrutiny. Horne has advocated for greater accountability regarding ESA expenditures, aiming to ensure all funding serves legitimate educational purposes.
While Horne has faced criticism for rejecting specific ESA funding requests—citing instances such as a denied application for a vasectomy testing kit—he has established guidelines for what qualifies for approval under the funding program. These include requirements for educational relevance and reasonable pricing for approved purchases. Yee’s announcement did not clarify her stance on potential limitations to the ESA program.
Throughout her campaign, Yee has pledged to collaborate with parents in order to enhance educational opportunities and bolster school choice options for children in Arizona. She has underscored the importance of advocating for families, dismissing what she describes as “political games and empty rhetoric” that can detract from substantial educational dialogues.
Looking ahead, Yee faces the challenge of uniting support among various factions of the Republican party while appealing to a wider voter demographic. She needs to navigate her relationship with far-right conservatives, such as state lawmaker Jake Hoffman, who have critiqued wasteful spending in public schools and have shown frustration toward Horne’s disallowance of extravagant ESA requests.
As Yee prepares for the Republican primary, her recent electoral success may bolster her candidacy. In the 2022 election, Yee garnered more votes than any other contested candidate, highlighting her significant support among the electorate. This strong backing may provide her with a competitive edge as she approaches the 2026 election.
The Republican primary will not only determine the party’s nominee but will also reflect the evolving dynamics within the party in Arizona regarding educational funding and parental involvement in school choices. The results of this election will have implications for the state’s education system and the governance of public instruction in the coming years.
As the election date approaches, the political landscape will undoubtedly sharpen, and candidates will seek to articulate their visions for Arizona’s educational future. With Yee’s candidacy, the discourse regarding educational opportunities, school choice, and governmental accountability will continue to play a central role in the Republican primary race.
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Additional Resources
- Fox 10 Phoenix: Kimberly Yee Running for AZ Schools Superintendent
- AZ Central: Arizona Superintendent Horne vs. Yee
- AZ Family: New Poll Looks Ahead to 2026 Arizona Governor Race
- AZ Central: Maricopa County School Superintendent Election Results
- AZ Family: Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes Announces Re-election
- Wikipedia: Arizona State Government
- Google Search: Arizona Superintendent election
- Google Scholar: Education Policy Arizona
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education in Arizona
- Google News: Arizona Education System
