Eckstrom Leads Early TUSD Board Race
Incumbent Jennifer Eckstrom holds the top share of early votes in the Tucson Unified School District governing board contest for two open seats.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Administration
Live Poll
Do you think local schools in your area are getting better or worse?
Jennifer Eckstrom led early results in the Tucson Unified School District governing board race, receiving 31.12% of early votes. Five candidates are competing for two seats, and unofficial results were released by Pima County elections Tuesday night.
Why it matters
The race determines who will shape decisions for a district facing school closures and consolidations while carrying a state financial-risk label. Early returns suggest Eckstrom, an incumbent, is positioned to win a second four-year term.
Unofficial early results show Eckstrom with 50,738 votes, or 31.12% of the early total, while Romero, an incumbent, trails at 17.59%. Final and certified counts for the two open seats had not been released at the time of reporting.
The players
Jennifer Eckstrom
Incumbent member of the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board who led early returns and is likely to win a second four-year term.
Val Romero
Incumbent member of the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board who trailed in early results for one of the two open seats.
The details
Early results released Tuesday night as of 9:21 p.m. placed Eckstrom at the top of the five-candidate field for the two open seats on the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board. Romero, Acosta Ruiz, Rhodes and Fernandez trailed her in early returns, and Eckstrom spoke to reporters in South Tucson.
Timeline
Tuesday night: Early Tucson-area school board results are released.
9:21 p.m.: Pima County elections posts unofficial Tucson Unified School District tallies.
January: New TUSD board terms begin.
Seasonal Patterns
The election comes as Tucson Unified School District carries a state financial-risk label under Arizona's school district financial monitoring, and faces school closures and consolidations. Whoever wins the two open seats will govern that financial pressure when new terms begin in January.
Parents and staff in the district should track certified results, since the two winners will vote on school closures and consolidations starting in January. Voters who want to follow the outcome can check Pima County election results for final totals.
The takeaway
Early leads in school board races can shift as counts finalize, so readers should wait for certified totals before drawing conclusions about who will govern the district.
What happens next
Final certified results for the two open Tucson Unified School District board seats will determine who takes office when new terms begin in January.
Further reading
Follow local school governance developments in the Administration section for more context on district leadership.
Live Poll
Do you think local schools in your area are getting better or worse?
