The GA Files · 2026 Candidates

State School Superintendent

Lydia Powell (D) vs. Richard Woods (R)

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D

Lydia Powell

Democratic nominee

A 26-year educator and current assistant principal at Hampton High School, with degrees in special education and educational leadership and work as an adjunct professor and diversity consultant. A Florida A&M graduate and Fayette County Democratic leader, she won the Democratic primary outright.

Previously held

  • Assistant Principal, Hampton High School
  • 26 years as a teacher and school administrator
  • Adjunct professor; diversity consultant

Top contributors

Running a true shoestring campaign — her largest reported donor gave $1,000 and most gave $50–$100, including a $250 check from 2014 Democratic governor nominee Jason Carter. A stark contrast to the incumbent's lobbyist and testing-vendor money; itemized donors are filed with the Georgia Ethics Commission.

  • $1,250.00Democratic Party of Georgia (Atlanta, GA)
  • $1,000.00Pearson, Juddifier (Fayetteville, GA)
  • $1,000.00Alexander, Chasity (Peachtree City, GA)
  • $1,000.00Harris-Holmes, Nicole (Tyrone, GA)
  • $250.00Carter, Jason (Atlanta, GA)
  • $200.00Troup, Tarcia (Tyrone, GA)
  • $200.00Barefoot, Jason (Lagrange, GA)

$12,030 raised · $5,929 cash on hand — as of Jun 28, 2026 (GA Ethics latest filing).

Source: Ballotpedia · Transparency USA (GA filings)

Where they stand

Public-school funding

A career educator who runs on fully funding public schools and the basics — universal pre-K, mental-health support, and advanced coursework and connectivity for rural districts.

Source: AJC — superintendent candidates
School vouchers & choice

Opposes the Georgia Promise Scholarship voucher program (SB 233), warning that it can defund public schools — an issue she calls a core focus.

Source: AJC — superintendent candidates · Ballotpedia
Teacher pay & shortages

Pledges to treat teachers with trust, respect, and support — better pay, training, and working conditions to stem the shortage.

Source: Dr. Lydia Powell campaign
School safety

Frames safety around student and educator mental health and wellness rather than hardening alone.

Source: Dr. Lydia Powell campaign
Curriculum & book restrictions

Has not issued a detailed book-policy statement; she campaigns on inclusive, well-supported classrooms rather than content bans.

Source: Ballotpedia
DEI in schools

A former diversity consultant whose platform centers on equity and supporting every child; she has not issued a specific statement on Georgia's DEI restrictions.

Source: Ballotpedia
LGBTQ & trans students

Has not issued a specific statement on transgender-student policy; she campaigns broadly on safe, supportive, inclusive schools for every child.

Source: Ballotpedia
Standards & testing

Wants to cut the over-reliance on standardized tests and replace it with “smart assessment” and more professional trust for teachers.

Source: Dr. Lydia Powell campaign

Scandals

None documented.

Campaign site · Ballotpedia

R

Richard Woods

Republican incumbent

Georgia's three-term State School Superintendent (since 2015) and a 30-year public educator from Tifton — 14 years a high-school teacher, then principal, curriculum director, and more. He survived a June 2026 Republican runoff after the party's hard right (and roughly $900K in outside money) backed his challenger.

Previously held

  • State School Superintendent (2015–present)
  • High-school teacher, principal, curriculum director
  • Tift County public educator (30+ years)

Top contributors

A three-term incumbent running on modest direct donations — his top donor is the standardized-testing vendor Data Recognition Corporation, alongside lobbying firms. Notably, about $900,000 in outside money (Conservatives for Strong Schools) backed his runoff opponent, not him; itemized donors are filed with the Georgia Ethics Commission.

  • $5,000.00Norton, Laura (Smyrna, GA)
  • $5,000.00Bolia, Don (Atlanta, GA)
  • $3,000.00Kaplan, Tyler (Atalanta, GA)
  • $3,000.00Yoon, Ho j. (Duluth, GA)
  • $3,000.00Waldman, Chris (Acworth, GA)
  • $2,990.00Butler, Stephen (Atlanta, GA)
  • $2,000.00Michael, Callie (Atlanta, GA)

$32,115 raised · $45,329 cash on hand — as of Jun 24, 2026 (GA Ethics latest filing).

Source: Georgia Recorder · Ballotpedia · Transparency USA (GA filings)

Where they stand

Public-school funding

A 30-year public educator who points to record graduation rates and securing campus-security and teacher-pay funding across his three terms.

Source: Superintendent Woods — biography (GaDOE)
School vouchers & choice

His office administers the new Georgia Promise Scholarship, but as a career public-school educator he has not made expanding school choice his banner.

Source: Ballotpedia
Teacher pay & shortages

Has advocated for teacher pay raises during his tenure.

Source: Superintendent Woods — biography (GaDOE)
School safety

Pushed campus-security funding for Georgia schools.

Source: Superintendent Woods — biography (GaDOE)
Curriculum & book restrictions

Operates under the state's “divisive concepts” law (HB 1084) and book-review rules; his enforcement has been cautious and at times reluctant rather than aggressive — drawing fire from the party's right.

Source: Georgia Recorder — years of tension · Ballotpedia
DEI in schools

His most-watched race/DEI decision: he blocked AP African American Studies from the state course catalog as conflicting with the “divisive concepts” law, then reversed and funded it after the attorney general said AP courses are exempt — enforcing the anti-DEI rules without leading the charge.

Source: Georgia Recorder — reverses AP African American Studies · AJC
LGBTQ & trans students

Backs restricting school sports by birth sex — “boys should compete against biological boys… and girls should compete against girls” — and earlier pushed back on federal guidance allowing transgender students to use bathrooms matching their gender identity.

Source: MDJ — Woods on trans athletes · GaDOE — statement on transgender bathroom guidance
Standards & testing

Oversaw what his office calls the state's largest-ever reduction in high-stakes testing.

Source: Superintendent Woods — biography (GaDOE)

Scandals

None documented.

Campaign site · Ballotpedia

Every entry is drawn from published reporting, official records, or the candidate's own statements, with sources on each item. Policy summaries are condensed and reflect stated positions; allegations or unresolved matters are labeled as such, and inclusion is not a finding of guilt. Last updated 2026-06-17.