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Georgia Superintendent of Schools
Election details
Filing deadline: March 11, 2022
Primary: May 24, 2022 Primary runoff: June 21, 2022 General: November 8, 2022 General runoff: December 6, 2022 Pre-election incumbent(s): Richard Woods (Republican)
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in Georgia
Ballotpedia analysis
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Georgia executive elections
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Georgia held an election forsuperintendent of schools onNovember 8, 2022. The primary was scheduled for May 24, 2022, and a primary runoff was scheduled for June 21, 2022. A general runoff election was scheduled for December 6, 2022. The filing deadline was March 11, 2022.

IncumbentRichard Woods won election in the general election for Georgia State Superintendent of Schools.

Candidates and election results

General election candidates

• Richard Woods  (Incumbent) (Republican Party) ✔
• Alisha Searcy  (Democratic Party) 

= candidate completedBallotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
 Democratic primary candidates

• Currey Hitchens 
• Jaha Howard
• James Morrow
• Alisha Searcy ✔ 

Did not make the ballot:

• Everton Blair Jr.

= candidate completedBallotpedia's Candidate Connection survey
 Republican primary candidates

• Richard Woods (Incumbent) ✔
• John Barge

Voting information

See also:Voting in Georgia

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completedBallotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Alisha Searcy (D)

I will be a champion for teachers ensuring they have a voice, a platform to speak up and will listen and act on their needs because I understand they are the key to a strong public education system.

Parents must be empowered as active parents within our system. That includes ensuring those with children with special needs having the tools to advocate for them effectively.

I will work with parents, teachers, students, faith, business and community leaders to RE-IMAGINE public education. We must stop delivering a telegram education to a TikTok generation!

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Alisha Searcy (D)

I am passionate about supporting our teachers, doing more than giving them a raise. I want to significantly increase the starting salary, recruit teachers like NBA stars, and create a system where they consistently feel valued, respected and supported.

I am passionate about creating a public system that is reflective of the students we serve and the world we live in. That includes providing mental health services to students and school personnel, wrap around services to students, a delivery system that is leverages technology and 21st century learning, and curriculum that is relevant. This includes exposing students to the thousands of careers available to them, offering more than just college. I would like to partner with school districts to create pre- apprenticeship programs and with industry to create a pipeline to prosperity for our students.

I am passionate about families having options within the public school system. I believe that a one size fits all education system is outdated. I want families to have access to the schools that work best for their families regardless of their zip code.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

Alisha Searcy (D)

The State School Superintendent in a policy and rule making job. It requires this leader to work with the legislature, the governor, and the state board of education. It also requires this leader to work with local school districts, their board members and superintendents. The qualities necessary for this role include the ability to work across the aisle, to find common ground, to be able to navigate the political and legislative processes, and always serve as the chief advocate for children, students, families and educators.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Alisha Searcy (D)

Dr. Joseph Lowery was a civil rights icon, activist and minister. I began working with him when I was a student at Spelman and President of the NAACP college chapter. I would like to follow his example because he led with tremendous humility. He could sit with presidents and could dine with homeless people, but his humor, personality, and most of all his convictions for serving the least of these never changed. I learned so much from him over the 20 plus years we worked together. Even when we disagreed on issues, he always supported me, always made himself available when I needed him, and gave me counsel that will las a lifetime.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Alisha Searcy (D)

Integrity, accessibility, vision, and optimism are the most important characteristics for an elected official. I had the privilege of serving in elected office for 12 years. Six times, voters went to the polls to elect me. These were the key characteristics that were the key to my success and enabled to effectively serve my constituents. These are the same characteristics I will serve with as State School Superintendent.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Alisha Searcy (D)

I am proud to have already established a legacy by passing laws in Georgia that provide options in the public school system for parents. As State School Superintendent, I would like to leave a legacy of schools that are well resourced, teachers who are respected, and students whose high school diplomas are keys to tremendous success in their lives due to the education they receive in every single school, regardless of their zip code.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Alisha Searcy (D)

The historical event that made a tremendous impact was the election of Barack Obama as POTUS. I was a delegate during the convention and it was a life altering moment in our nation's history. I also had the great honor of attending a reception at the White House for an organization I helped co-found called the Young Elected Officials Network. The President hosted the reception for us and I was able to take a photo and interact with him at the White House. It was an incredible full circle moment and I will never forget it.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Alisha Searcy (D)

My very first job after graduating from college was Southern Regional Organizer. I worked with young people in the southern region of the United States to organize campaigns to stop gun violence. Once I was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives, I transitioned out of that role 2 years later.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Alisha Searcy (D)

Will, by Will Smith is currently my favorite book. I enjoyed reading about his rise to success, the challenges he's overcome, and the issues he still faces in his life. I have great respect for his vulnerability and authenticity. I believe we learn so much about others and ourselves when we are able to be our full selves openly and honestly. The book was entertaining, interesting, and enlightening.

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

Alisha Searcy (D)

The most important responsibilities are working within the legislative process and working with the state board. These required experience and background in these areas, and a skillset to know how to navigate in these spaces. I am the only candidate who has such a background and a track record of getting things done in these spaces.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Alisha Searcy (D)

The little known power is having the biggest platform in the state to champion the needs of children, parents and educators. The State School Superintendent should be the visionary for public education.

Past elections

2018

See also:Georgia Superintendent of Public Instruction election, 2018

General election

General election for Georgia State Superintendent of Schools

IncumbentRichard Woods defeatedOtha Thornton in the general election for Georgia State Superintendent of Schools on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Woods (R)	53.0	2,048,003
		Otha Thornton (D)	47.0	1,814,461

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	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,862,464
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary runoff election

Democratic primary runoff for Georgia State Superintendent of Schools

Otha Thornton defeatedSid Chapman in the Democratic primary runoff for Georgia State Superintendent of Schools on July 24, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Otha Thornton	59.1	86,704
	Submit photo	Sid Chapman	40.9	60,006

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	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 146,710
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Georgia State Superintendent of Schools

Otha Thornton andSid Chapman advanced to a runoff. They defeatedSam Mosteller in the Democratic primary for Georgia State Superintendent of Schools on May 22, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Otha Thornton	43.9	208,407
✔	Submit photo	Sid Chapman	36.5	173,270
	Submit photo	Sam Mosteller	19.7	93,402

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	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 475,079
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Georgia State Superintendent of Schools

IncumbentRichard Woods defeatedJohn Barge in the Republican primary for Georgia State Superintendent of Schools on May 22, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Woods	60.1	324,848
		John Barge	39.9	215,431

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	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 540,279
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

2014

See also:Georgia down ballot state executive elections, 2014

Superintendent of Georgia, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Richard Woods	55.1%	1,391,005
	Democratic	Valarie Wilson	44.9%	1,132,886
Total Votes				2,523,891
Election results viaGeorgia Secretary of State

See also

Georgia	State Executive Elections	News and Analysis
Georgia State Executive OfficesGeorgia State LegislatureGeorgia Courts	2026 •2025 •2024 •2023 •2022 •2021 •2020 •2019 •2018 •2017 •2016Georgia elections:2026 •2025 •2024 •2023 •2022 •2021 •2020 •2019 •2018 •2017 •2016	Party control of state governmentState government trifectasState of the state addressesPartisan composition of governors

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• Georgia superintendent of public instruction official website

Footnotes

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