Tony Thurmond
- Assembly: 2014-2018
- Superintendent of Public Instruction: 2019-present
News coverage of Tony Thurmond
Bio
Tony Thurmond, 57, is a former school board, city council and assemblymember who is running for governor in 2026. He was raised by his single mother, a teacher from Panama. After his mother died when Thurmond was six, he was taken in by his uncle and cousin, both school police officers. Thurmond was a social worker at nonprofits serving youth leaving the foster care and juvenile justice systems. He was elected to the Richmond City Council in 2005, the West Contra Costa Unified School Board in 2008 and the California Assembly in 2014. Thurmond served as student body president at Temple University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology. He lives in Richmond with his wife and two daughters.
Job Description
The superintendent is a nonpartisan office that oversees a public education system serving more than 6 million K-12 students in more than 9,000 schools. The superintendent manages the Department of Education, which has nearly 2,700 employees and a budget of $113 million. The department distributes school curriculum, oversees grant programs and publishes standardized test results.
Financials
This feature tracks three sources of money intended to help a candidate win election: 1-Money given directly to a candidate’s committee, 2-Money given to an Independent Expenditure Committee, 3-Money given to a political party.
Election
This display shows money given directly to the incumbent’s campaign committee (NOTE: The industry categories for donors come from Open Secrets, a nonpartisan research organization for campaign finance. Some contributions are “uncoded,” meaning they have not been assigned to an industry sector. As a result, the total for each sector is also an estimate).
Agriculture
Candidate Contributions
Communications & Electronics
Construction
Defense
Energy & Natural Resources
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
General Business
Government Agencies/Education/Other
Health
Ideology/Single Issue
Labor
Lawyers & Lobbyists
Party
Transportation
Uncoded
Candidate Donations
Individuals, corporations, organizations and committees are limited to a maximum donation to candidates of $5,500 for the primary and for the general elections.
Party Committees
This is independent expenditure money spent by political parties for advertising, grassroots mobilization or other activities targeting this candidate. Separately, political parties can give money directly to a candidate's campaign committee. Digital Democracy tallies that money under "candidate donations".
Independent Expenditures
Money from Independent Expenditure Committees (IEC) for advertising or grassroots activity targeting a candidates run for office is unlimited, but it cannot be spent in coordination with the candidate or the candidate's campaign.
Grand Total for Elections
This is a total of the money targeting this official's campaign(s) including direct donations to the candidate, money spent by Independent Expenditure Committees and money from political parties.
Influence
There are three categories of donations after they are elected that encourage a working relationship between the donor and the official. The three categories are: 1-Gifts, 2-Travel, 3-Behests.
Giver | Value | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Legislative Black Caucus | $565.93 | Nov 20, 2023 | Gift bags |
| California Jewish Legislative Caucus | $247.58 | Jan 3, 2023 | Framed Prints |
| Robert Rivas for Assembly 2024 | $87.21 | Jan 3, 2023 | Reception |
Gifts
Officials are not allowed to accept gifts of more than $10 per month from registered lobbyists. Gifts from any other single source are limited to $590 in a calendar year.
Policy
Bill Positions
This officeholder or this office has taken positions on the following bills during the current session.
Election Results
Previous Election (2022):