2010 California Superintendent of Public Instruction election

The 2010 California Superintendent of Public Instruction election occurred on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Jack O'Connell was term-limited and unable to run for re-election to a third term.

2010 California Superintendent of Public Instruction election

← 2006 June 8, 2010 (first round) November 2, 2010 (runoff) 2014 →

Candidate Tom Torlakson Larry Aceves Gloria Romero First round 808,970 18.6% 832,938 19.1% 738,032 16.9% Runoff 4,222,946 54.5% 3,476,243 44.9% Eliminated   Candidate Lydia Gutierrez Grant McMicken Karen Blake First round 384,514 8.8% 309,499 7.1% 299,492 6.9% Runoff Eliminated Eliminated Eliminated   Candidate Diane Lenning Daniel Nusbaum First round 270,570 6.2% 217,220 5.0% Runoff Eliminated Eliminated

Runoff county results Torlakson:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70% Aceves:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%

SPI before election Jack O'Connell Democratic Elected SPI Tom Torlakson

In the nonpartisan primary election on June 8, 2010, no candidate received a majority of the votes. The top two finishers, Larry Aceves, who came first with 19% of the vote, and Democratic State Assemblyman Tom Torlakson, who came second with 18.5% of the vote, advanced to the general election. In the general election on November 2, 2010, Torlakson defeated Aceves.

Primary election

Candidates

• Larry Aceves, former Superintendent of the Franklin-McKinley School District and of the Alum Rock Union Elementary School District
• Karen Blake, geologist
• Alexia Deligianni, Board member of the Orange Unified School District
• Lydia Gutierrez, teacher
• Diane Lenning, teacher and businesswoman
• Leonard James Martin, retired
• Grant McMicken, teacher
• Daniel Nusbaum, teacher
• Gloria Romero, State Senator
• Faarax Dahir Sheikh-Noor
• Tom Torlakson, State Assemblyman
• Henry Williams, professor

Results

California Superintendent of Public Instruction primary election, 2010

Candidate		Votes	%
Larry Aceves		832,938	19.12
Tom Torlakson		808,970	18.57
Gloria Romero		738,032	16.94
Lydia Gutierrez		384,514	8.83
Grant McMicken		309,499	7.11
Karen Blake		299,492	6.88
Diane Lenning		270,570	6.21
Daniel Nusbaum		217,220	4.99
Alexia Deligianni		212,145	4.87
Henry Williams		125,283	2.88
Leonard James Martin		123,791	2.84
Faarax Dahir Sheikh-Noor		33,586	0.77
Total votes		4,356,040	100

General election

Candidates

• Larry Aceves, former Superintendent of the Franklin-McKinley School District and of the Alum Rock Union Elementary School District
• Tom Torlakson, State Assemblyman

Results

California Superintendent of Public Instruction, 2010

Candidate		Votes	%
Tom Torlakson		4,222,946	54.52
Larry Aceves		3,476,243	44.88
Diane Lenning (write-in)		46,061	0.60
Total votes		7,745,250	100

See also

• California elections, 2010
• California Department of Education