Leyba Ruiz Leads Yee in Arizona Schools Race

Democrat Teresa Leyba Ruiz holds an early lead over Republican Kimberly Yee in the race for Arizona's superintendent of public instruction.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Primary Education

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a simplified domed state capitol silhouette above a single doorway, in deep red and cream, evoking statewide school governance. — Democrat Teresa Leyba Ruiz held an early lead of 56% to 44% over Republican Kimberly Yee in Arizona's race for superintendent of public instruction. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Early results show Democrat Teresa Leyba Ruiz ahead of Republican Kimberly Yee 56% to 44% in the contest for Arizona superintendent of public instruction. Results were posted about an hour after polls closed at 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Why it matters

The superintendent oversees public K-12 education statewide, so the outcome shapes how Arizona approaches school policy. The race also turns partly on the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts voucher program, which Yee supports and Leyba Ruiz wants to tighten with added requirements.

The 56% to 44% split reflects only early-reporting returns and is not a final count. Official certification of the superintendent race had not been reported as of the extraction.

The players

Teresa Leyba Ruiz

Democratic candidate for Arizona superintendent of public instruction and former president of Glendale Community College, running for statewide office for the first time.

Kimberly Yee

Republican candidate for Arizona superintendent of public instruction who defeated incumbent Tom Horne in the GOP primary and supports the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts voucher program.

Tom Horne

Incumbent Arizona superintendent of public instruction who lost the Republican primary to Kimberly Yee.

The details

Leyba Ruiz, a first-time candidate and former Glendale Community College president, is challenging Yee, who defeated incumbent Superintendent Tom Horne in the Republican primary. Yee is not endorsed by President Trump but has the backing of Turning Point USA, the Freedom Caucus, and the No Labels Party.

Nov. 3, 2026: Election day; polls closed at 7 p.m. and early results were posted about an hour later.

Season Trajectory

The superintendent contest is a direct test of Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program, the state's school voucher system that Kimberly Yee has supported and Teresa Leyba Ruiz wants to subject to added requirements. A change in leadership would shift how the state administers that program and public K-12 funding priorities.

For Arizona families, the superintendent's office sets rules affecting public schools and how ESA voucher funds are used for private tuition. Parents with school-age children may see changes in program requirements depending on who takes office.

The takeaway

Voters choosing a state superintendent are effectively choosing how public and voucher-funded education is governed. Following the certified final results will show which direction Arizona's schools take.