Exclusive | Sonja Shaw lays out her ‘common sense’ vision for California’s schools after blistering primary

Sonja Shaw, who is leading in the race to be California’s next superintendent of Public Instruction, has laid out her vision for the state if she wins.

The Chino Valley Unified board president is leading San Diego Unified school board president Richard Barrera 24.9% to 18.9%, with around 55% of the vote counted in the primary on Wednesday morning.

The Associated Press has already called her spot in the general election. Shaw, a Republican, is one step away from being one of the most powerful education officials in the state.

“We’re not going to let special interests buy this seat. They poured nearly $6 million in outside money behind their candidate, but we still came out ahead. That same momentum is carrying us into November,” she told The California Post.

“As California’s next State Superintendent, my first priorities are clear: Restore the basics: reading, writing, and math. Right now, nearly half of our students are not reading at grade level. That ends on Day One.

“Protect girls in their sports and locker rooms, no exceptions.

“Put parents back in charge and demand real accountability and transparency from our schools.

“Classrooms should focus on academic achievement and preparing kids for success, not political agendas. California students deserve better, and we’re going to deliver it.”

Shaw added in a post on X that she was “honored and grateful that Californians have made us the top vote-getter in this race.”

The Republican made an appearance at a rally against transgender athlete AB Hernandez’s participation in the CIF State Track & Field Championships, demanding female events be reserved for biological girls.

She also confronted Hernandez’s mom at the meet.

“The adults and politicians who enabled this abuse will be written in history books as psychotic. Enough, California. Vote these people out. Protect girls!!” she wrote on X.

Chaos erupted outside the state championship when “Save Girls Sports” activists with the signs confronted pro-LGBTQ groups holding a press conference for Hernandez.

Clovis police officers arrived to oversee the heated verbal dispute, which eventually dissipated without physical violence or direct police intervention, Outkick reported.

Inside the stadium, Hernandez finished third in the girls’ long jump with a mark of 20 feet, 2 1/4 inches.

Hernandez previously swept the girls’ long jump, high jump and triple jump at the CIF Southern Section championship final.

Shaw made girls’ athletic competition a chief issue of her campaign, urging athletic officials to keep biological men out of girls’ locker rooms.

“This is what fighting back sounds like,” she wrote on X after the meet. “Our girls are under attack in their sports, bathrooms & locker rooms.

“All because of California’s radical political agenda. The solution is simple: GET OUT AND VOTE. Turn in your ballot ASAP. Our daughters are counting on us to fix this.”

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