The race: State School Superintendent
Party affiliation: Republican
The lane:
Richard Woods is seeking another term as Georgia’s State School Superintendent after serving in the role since 2015. Before his election to statewide office, Woods spent decades working in public education as both a classroom teacher and school administrator.
The basics:
Woods campaigns on the progress Georgia schools have made during his tenure. He highlights higher graduation rates, increased investments in school safety, efforts to retain educators and initiatives designed to address teacher burnout.
Why he’s running:
Woods contends that Georgia’s education system benefits from experienced leadership and that continued stability is necessary to build on recent gains. He points to improved graduation outcomes, expanded school safety resources, support for teachers and Georgia’s move from Common Core standards to state-developed academic standards as evidence of that progress.
What’s working:
One of Woods’ strongest arguments is the state’s rising graduation rate. Georgia’s graduation rate climbed from 79% during the 2014-15 school year to 87.2% in 2024-25. As the incumbent, Woods also enters the race with widespread name recognition and longstanding relationships with educators, school administrators and local education leaders across the state.
The challenge:
Critics argue that Georgia continues to struggle with literacy rates and student achievement. Opponents contend that academic performance has not improved enough during Woods’ time in office and that schools need a different approach moving forward.
What to watch:
A key question is whether Republican primary voters will value Woods’ experience and record or seek new leadership. Another factor will be whether his accomplishments in graduation rates and school safety outweigh concerns about literacy and academic performance. Observers will also be watching to see whether educators and local school leaders mobilize behind Woods as challengers make the case for change.
