2010 California Superintendent of Public Instruction election

The 2010 California Superintendent of Public Instruction election occurred on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Jack O'Connell was term-limited and unable to run for re-election to a third term.

In the nonpartisan primary election on June 8, 2010, no candidate received a majority of the votes. The top two finishers, Larry Aceves, who came first with 19% of the vote, and Democratic State Assemblyman Tom Torlakson, who came second with 18.5% of the vote, advanced to the general election. In the general election on November 2, 2010, Torlakson defeated Aceves.

Candidates

 * Larry Aceves, former Superintendent of the Franklin-McKinley School District and of the Alum Rock Union Elementary School District
 * Karen Blake, geologist
 * Alexia Deligianni, Board member of the Orange Unified School District
 * Lydia Gutierrez, teacher
 * Diane Lenning, teacher and businesswoman
 * Leonard James Martin, retired
 * Grant McMicken, teacher
 * Daniel Nusbaum, teacher
 * Gloria Romero, State Senator
 * Faarax Dahir Sheikh-Noor
 * Tom Torlakson, State Assemblyman
 * Henry Williams, professor

Candidates

 * Larry Aceves, former Superintendent of the Franklin-McKinley School District and of the Alum Rock Union Elementary School District
 * Tom Torlakson, State Assemblyman