Tony Thurmond
- Assembly: 2014-2018
- Superintendent of Public Instruction: 2019-present
Bio
Tony Thurmond, 58, 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.
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 Democratic Party | $74 | Nov 6, 2014 | Policy Conference* |
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.
|
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.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | $250 | Nov 14, 2024 | Ticket to Panetta Institute Dinner |
| California Jewish Legislative Caucus Leadership Foundation | $247.58 | Feb 7, 2024 | Framed Print |
| California Legislative Latino Caucus | $153.42 | Mar 13, 2024 | CLLC Member Jacket |
| California Jewish Legislative Caucus Leadership Foundation | $77.39 | Sep 20, 2024 | Shabbat Dinner* |
| William Morris/Endeavor Entertainment LLC | $64.49 | Sep 20, 2024 | Shabbat Dinner* |
| California Jewish Legislative Caucus Leadership Foundation | $57.89 | Dec 9, 2024 | Reception |
| America-Israel Democracy Coalition | $45.31 | Sep 20, 2024 | Shabbat Dinner* |
| California Legislative Latino Caucus | $12.96 | Mar 27, 2024 | 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.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| John Perez For Assembly 2012 | $136.16 | Jun 14, 2013 | Meal |
| CA Democratic Party | $123.94 | Feb 26, 2013 | Meal |
| Global Automakers | $114.7 | May 20, 2013 | Meal |
| CA Democratic Party | $95.19 | Dec 5, 2013 | Meal |
| John Perez For Assembly 2012 | $74.75 | Feb 26, 2013 | Personalized Jacket |
| CA State Protocol Foundation | $70.75 | Jan 30, 2013 | Meal |
| Women in California Leadership | $70.52 | Aug 21, 2013 | Meal |
| John Perez For Assembly 2012 | $41.51 | May 15, 2013 | Meal |
| John Perez For Assembly 2012 | $40.14 | Jun 5, 2013 | Meal |
Sponsored Travel
Officials are allowed to have their expenses paid for domestic and international travel that is related to their work including, for example, trips to conferences or to tour places facing issues similar to California. There is no limit on the amount of travel expenses a official can accept. The trips are often funded by companies or organizations with interest in state policy.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Environment Council | $686.2 | Dec 18, 2014 | Travel reimbursement for participation in climate/energy panel |
Sponsored Travel
Officials are allowed to have their expenses paid for domestic and international travel that is related to their work including, for example, trips to conferences or to tour places facing issues similar to California. There is no limit on the amount of travel expenses a official can accept. The trips are often funded by companies or organizations with interest in state policy.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| California Latino Legislative Caucus | $755.91 | Mar 17, 2024 | CLLCF 2024 Policy Summit: Los Angeles, CA |
Sponsored Travel
Officials are allowed to have their expenses paid for domestic and international travel that is related to their work including, for example, trips to conferences or to tour places facing issues similar to California. There is no limit on the amount of travel expenses a official can accept. The trips are often funded by companies or organizations with interest in state policy.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| VSP Vision Care | $38,500 | Aug 15, 2018 | Berkeley Student Resource Fair, September 8, 2018. |
| Members' Voice of the State Building & Construction Trades Council of California | $5,000 | Aug 28, 2018 | Terrence Thurmond Memorial Scholarship Fund. |
| Northern California Carpenters Regional Council | $5,000 | Aug 28, 2018 | Terrence Thurmond Memorial. |
Behests
These are unlimited payments made “at the behest” — or request — of a official to a third party. The behest might involve, for example, a official requesting a donation be made to a school district or a job fair. Behests must be reported if they exceed $5,000 from a single source in a year.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Gas & Electric Co (PG&E) | $500,000 | Sep 3, 2020 | Charitable Donation to the Closing the Digital Divide Fund for computing devised for public school students. |
| General Motors LLC | $430,000 | Nov 6, 2020 | The Donated Goods have been provided during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency (“Pandemic Emergency”) for immediate use by school staff throughout the State of California. |
Behests
These are unlimited payments made “at the behest” — or request — of a official to a third party. The behest might involve, for example, a official requesting a donation be made to a school district or a job fair. Behests must be reported if they exceed $5,000 from a single source in a year.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Gas andElectric Company | $10,000 | Nov 16, 2022 | Grief support for bereaved children and adults. No portion of funds will be used to compensate SPI Thurmond or any other employee of Josie's Place per the grant restrictions. |
Behests
These are unlimited payments made “at the behest” — or request — of a official to a third party. The behest might involve, for example, a official requesting a donation be made to a school district or a job fair. Behests must be reported if they exceed $5,000 from a single source in a year.
|
Giver
|
Value
|
Date
|
Description
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranzetta Family Charitable Fund | $10,000 | Mar 26, 2024 | Food delivery to community in need |
Behests
These are unlimited payments made “at the behest” — or request — of a official to a third party. The behest might involve, for example, a official requesting a donation be made to a school district or a job fair. Behests must be reported if they exceed $5,000 from a single source in a year.
Previous Election (2022):