State Treasurer Kimberly Yee announced yesterday that she will challenge Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne in the Republican primary for his position in 2026.
Her announcement came after state Sen. Jake Hoffman, a Republican from Queen Creek, teased a press conference to introduce his endorsed candidate for the position.
Hoffman, a member of the Arizona Freedom Caucus, which holds weight in Republican circles for their unapologetic, often hardline conservative views, is a former spokesperson for Turning Point USA.
The influential conservative has long criticized Horne and others for ideological concessions on the direction of the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Account, or ESA, program.
Yee cosigned on Hoffman’s ESA assessment in her announcement on the state Capitol’s lawn.
In early May, Horne proposed a draft handbook implementing spending caps and bans on items families can use ESA funding on. Horne told InBuckeye he was protecting the program with that draft.
Yee’s support seemingly positions her competitively in the Republican primary, but she could face resistance in a general election against a Democrat with more moderate views.
Horne defeated the previous Superintendent of Public Instruction, Kathy Hoffman, a Democrat, by less than one point in the 2022 election.
Buckeye educational leaders react
“I'm not surprised Horne has a challenger in the primary,” Madden said. “Horne's time in office has caused considerable controversy from the freedom caucus, not all of it real of course. Rhetoric and narrative are the driving forces in politics after all, but I do genuinely believe he has had a long enough time in office. As with most people, Libertarians believe that career politicians ultimately cause more harm than good, regardless of intention.”
Madden told InBuckeye his views do not represent those of the state’s Libertarian party as a whole.
Liberty Elementary School District governing board President Michael Todd also told InBuckeye a change may be due.
“Until her announcement this morning I wasn't aware Kimberly Yee was interested in education. In the past several state superintendent elections the state has lacked a solid candidate for the position,” Todd said. “This past election was no different. I am curious to learn more about Kimberly Yee’s vision for public education. Public Education has been on the back burner for far too long and its time for a change.”
InBuckeye reporter David Iverson contributed photos and interviews to this report.
Michael McDaniel can be reached at [email protected]. We invite our readers to submit their civil comments or opinions on this or any issue. Email [email protected].
