Joshua Botts Newman (born October 17, 1964) is an American Army veteran, entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, and Democratic politician who served in the California State Senate representing the 29th district (2016–2018, recalled) and the 37th district (2020–2024), covering parts of Orange and Los Angeles counties including Fullerton, Brea, and Yorba Linda. He served as Chair of the Senate Education Committee during the 2023–24 legislative session and is currently a Senior Fellow at UC Irvine’s School of Social Ecology. He is running as a nonpartisan candidate for California Superintendent of Public Instruction in the June 2, 2026 primary.
Newman grew up in the Los Angeles area. He earned a B.A. in History from Yale University and served as a U.S. Army officer for four years after graduation, first with a nuclear weapons unit in South Korea and then with the 25th Infantry Division’s rapid-deployment artillery unit in Hawaii. After completing his military service he worked in local and state government, entertainment, and technology. In 2012, he founded ArmedForce2Workforce, a nonprofit helping young veterans in the Greater Los Angeles area transition successfully to the civilian workforce. He serves as an adjunct instructor at UC Irvine, co-teaching a course on California state politics and policy.
Newman was first elected to the State Senate in 2016, narrowly defeating Republican Ling Ling Chang by fewer than 2,500 votes in the then-29th district. He was recalled from office in June 2018 after voting for SB 1, the gas and vehicle tax increase to fund road repairs, and was replaced by Chang. He ran again in 2020 and defeated Chang in a rematch to represent the newly drawn 37th district, serving until 2024, when he was narrowly defeated for re-election by Republican former Assemblyman Steven Choi. He announced his candidacy for Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2025, approximately six months after that loss.
Endorsements
State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, Humboldt County Superintendent Michael Davies-Hughes, and more than a dozen trade unions representing electrical, construction, commercial and industrial insulation workers. A full list is available on his endorsements page.
Reputation/Scandals/Successes
Core Strengths and Positive Reputation
- Senate Education Committee Chair and Proposition 2: Newman chaired the California Senate Education Committee during the 2023–24 legislative session — giving him direct, hands-on experience shaping K–12 education policy at the state level. He co-authored Proposition 2 with Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, the $10 billion school and community college facilities bond approved by voters in November 2024, one of the largest school infrastructure investments in California history.
- Distinctive Career Arc Across Service, Business, and Policy: Newman brings a genuinely unusual combination of credentials — Yale-educated Army officer, technology entrepreneur, veterans’ nonprofit founder, state legislator, and university fellow — that distinguishes him from the other career politicians in the race. His founding of ArmedForce2Workforce, which helped veterans in LA transition to civilian employment, demonstrates a track record of building institutions that serve underserved communities.
- Collaborative, Ground-Up Approach to CDE Reform: Newman’s central policy argument — that the California Department of Education has become a top-down “compliance operation” disconnected from local superintendents, and that it should be reoriented as a collaborative partner to districts — has resonated with county and district-level education leaders. His endorsement from Humboldt County Superintendent Michael Davies-Hughes, who cited Newman’s willingness to travel to the North Coast and listen directly to local leaders, reflects this approach.
- Focus on Workforce Readiness and Career Pathways: Newman has made expanding career technical education (CTE) and dual enrollment between high schools and community colleges a signature priority — reflecting his background in both workforce development and the technology sector. He authored SB 1244 to expand dual enrollment partnerships in 2024, and argues these pathways are urgently needed as the economy changes rapidly.
Criticisms and Vulnerabilities
- Recalled from Office in 2018: Newman became one of the few California state legislators ever to be successfully recalled, losing his seat in June 2018 after 58% of voters supported his removal following his vote for SB 1, the gas and vehicle tax increase. Opponents note that a recall is an extraordinary expression of voter disapproval, and that Newman’s seat was targeted precisely because his 2016 margin of victory was so thin — raising questions about his electoral durability in competitive terrain.
- Lost Re-Election in 2024: After winning back his Senate seat in 2020, Newman was defeated for re-election in November 2024 by Republican Steven Choi — an outcome widely described as an upset in a Democratic-leaning district. Two electoral losses in three contested races (2018 recall, 2024 general) is an unusual track record for a candidate seeking statewide office, and opponents may use it to raise doubts about his political viability.
- Mid-Pack Fundraising in a Crowded Field: As of the end of March, Newman raised more than $247,000 in contributions of $1,000 or more, placing him in the middle of the fundraising pack, with competitors ranging from under $20,000 to nearly $1.2 million. With Anthony Rendon entering the race with over $1.1 million in rolled-over funds and Richard Barrera backed by the CTA, Newman’s financial position makes it harder to build the statewide name recognition needed to break through in a 10-candidate primary.
- No Direct Classroom or School Administration Experience: Like several other candidates in the race, Newman has never been a classroom teacher, school principal, or district administrator. Critics have noted that while his Senate Education Committee chairmanship is substantive, it is policy experience rather than the kind of on-the-ground education expertise some argue the superintendent role demands.
Campaign Contributors
Has raised more than $333K placing him in the middle of the field. Major contributors include trade unions in the construction and electrical sectors. Full contributor details are available at Transparency USA.
