Education on the Ballot: EdWeek’s State-by-State Guide to 2026

# What this guide covers Education Week assembled a nationwide, state-by-state guide showing where K–12 schools are directly on the ballot in 2026. The guide focuses on statewide items with the largest potential effects on public schools: gubernatorial races, elections for state superintendents, state board of education contests, and statewide ballot initiatives that affect education or its funding.

# The scope and numbers to know

• 8 states will elect state superintendents, who generally run state education departments.
• 9 states and the District of Columbia will elect state board of education members, with 44 seats in play.
• 17 states will put 33 ballot initiatives before voters that either directly affect education or the principal revenue sources for schools.

The guide excludes local contests — local school board elections, bond measures, and property-tax levies — which can still have large local impacts but are outside this statewide-focused resource.

# Major policy themes appearing on statewide ballots Across gubernatorial contests and statewide debates, several education topics recur:

• Funding and affordability: Candidates are debating how to fund K–12 education amid broader economic concerns and budget fights.
• School choice and private-school funding: Statewide races may affect the future of school vouchers, education savings accounts, and public dollars tied to private schooling.
• Career and technical education (CTE): Many candidates propose expanding CTE and stronger alignment between K–12 and employer needs.
• Literacy policy: Evidence-based literacy instruction is a common campaign promise and policy talking point.

# How the guide is organized and compiled

# How to use the guide Search for your state in the state-by-state section to see what will appear on your November ballot. For each state, the guide lists incumbents and challengers (with incumbents shown first) and flags the contests or measures judged most consequential for schools.

# What the guide does not cover This resource intentionally omits federal House races, state legislative contests, and other statewide executive offices (attorney general, treasurer, etc.). It also leaves out local measures such as bonds and district-level school board elections, even though those often have immediate effects on classroom programs and school facilities.

# Quick read takeaway The 2026 midterm cycle will include many statewide decisions that shape K–12 policy and funding. Voters across most states will directly influence education through governor's races, and a substantial subset will decide state education leaders and policy referenda. Use the state lookup to see the specific races and measures on your ballot and to compare how candidates are framing education priorities where you live.