Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, who chairs the Assembly Education Committee, is first out of the gate to declare his candidacy for state superintendent of public instruction in next year’s election.
Muratsuchi, who got his start in politics years ago as a school board member in Torrance, said he’s been an advocate for public schools for over two decades and wants to continue to fight for public education after he’s termed out of the legislature in 2026.
And given the current political climate under President Donald Trump, who has expressed interest in dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, Muratsuchi said the role of California’s top schools chief is more critical than ever.
“Now that we have Donald Trump attacking public education, attacking our students — especially our immigrant students and our LGBTQ+ students — now more than ever, it’s up to states like California to stand up for all of our kids,” Muratsuchi said in an interview Tuesday, Feb. 18, after announcing his candidacy.
One month into his second term as president, some of Trump’s actions have put school communities on edge, with students fearing that they or a family member will be deported by immigration authorities conducting enforcement actions at or near school grounds.
Schools were recently ordered to end diversity initiatives or risk losing federal funding. And earlier this month, the president issued an executive order banning transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports.
In addition, Muratsuchi said Trump’s recent proposed cuts or attempts to freeze federal funds could impact crucial programs, including Head Start preschools for low-income students and services for special-needs students.
“Trump is threatening to cut federal funds for our most vulnerable students. Those are Republican kids as well as Democratic kids. So we need to work across party lines to defend special education funding and Title I funding for low-income students,” he said.
Muratsuchi is endorsed by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, state Treasurer Fiona Ma and former state schools chief Jack O’Connell in his bid to head up the California Department of Education, which oversees policies impacting some 5.8 million public school students.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, faced with term limits, is running for governor next year.
Muratsuchi represents the 66th Assembly District, which includes many of L.A. County’s South Bay communities, stretching from El Segundo and Manhattan Beach south through Torrance and San Pedro.
Now 60, Muratsuchi was first elected to the Assembly in 2012 but lost his bid for reelection in 2014. He reclaimed that seat in 2016 and has been in the legislature since.
Before becoming a state legislator, Muratsuchi served on the Torrance Unified school board from 2005 to 2012. He also previously worked as a civil rights lawyer and a deputy attorney general with the California Department of Justice.
In addition, Muratsuchi, who is the son of immigrants and a first-generation college graduate who attended UC Berkeley before earning his law degree from UCLA, has taught courses at UCLA and El Camino College, a community college in Torrance.
Last year, Muratsuchi authored the $10 billion statewide school and community college bond measure known as Proposition 2, which voters approved in November.
He also authored the California Freedom to Read Act, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law to prohibit public libraries from banning books based on controversial topics, such as race, sexual orientation or religion.
During his time in the Assembly, Muratsuchi has advocated for investments in schools, universal preschool and afterschool programs, free school meals for low-income students and increased pay for teachers, according to his campaign.
“I’m running to be the next state superintendent because I’m a true believer in public education,” he said. “I’ve been fighting for public education for over 20 years. I want to continue to be able to fight for public education and fight for California schools.”