State Superintendent Chris Reykdal’s Statement on 2028 Plans

OLYMPIA—November 9, 2026—In elective office, we have three choices as elected officials: Run for the office you hold, run for a different office, or step back from elective office. I am taking option one off the table: In 2028, I will not seek re-election as Washington’s Superintendent of Public Instruction for a fourth term. 

The first and most important reason is simple: I deeply believe in term limits. Public institutions are strengthened when leadership changes, new voices emerge, and those entrusted with public office understand that the position belongs to the people, not to the person holding it. While our state does not have term limits for statewide office, I believe we should impose those limits on ourselves to ensure new energy and new opportunities are always created.

Serving as State Superintendent has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life. Together, we have navigated extraordinary challenges, fought for stronger and more equitable school funding, expanded opportunities for students, including career and technical education, defended public education, and kept our focus on the promise that every student deserves an exceptional public education. I served through the pandemic and through both Trump Administrations––all of which necessitated a leadership that never compromised on the paramount duty of public education, even as public education was under attack.

I am also ready to consider what the next chapter of service might look like. In the coming months, I will ultimately decide whether to run for a different statewide office in 2028, seek federal office, or walk away from elective office altogether. My wife Kim and I will continue to weigh each of those paths, and I will be transparent about that decision along the way. No matter what I decide, service to our state and our youth will remain the core value that guides my next steps.

For now, my focus remains on the work Washingtonians elected me to do. There is important work ahead, particularly around sustainable and equitable school funding, student well-being, academic achievement, holding other elected officials accountable to public education, and ensuring every young person has meaningful opportunities after high school.
In this role, I am lucky to spend time in classrooms around our state. In each school I visit, I am struck with a deep appreciation for the work of our educators and administrators and a complete affirmation that our young people have the brightest future ahead. Our students are curious and engaged, and hearing their interests and goals is a constant reminder that our future is in good hands. 

Our educators and school and district staff create nothing short of magic for their students every single day. They work diligently to foster school spaces where students feel safe and supported, where learning is relevant and engaging, and where opportunities exist to explore different pathways and options. I started my career as a classroom teacher, and in this role, my number one priority was always ensuring that our students sat before the best educators in the nation, and they do!

I also want to acknowledge some unsung heroes you don’t hear much about. The OSPI team is remarkable. They are the heart and soul of state level education leadership, and although we oversee the entire $20 billion education system with a mere 0.3% of the education budget supporting our work, their service, professionalism, and commitment to public education is one of the major reasons Washington state remains one of the most successful public education systems in the nation. This office is highly professional, extremely efficient, and stands as an independent voice for public education in direct service to voters and to our local school districts. That is a legacy that should live on, no matter who the voters choose to lead this work in 2028 and beyond.

I am profoundly grateful to the people of Washington for the trust they have placed in me. Public service is a privilege, never an entitlement, and I intend to serve the next two years with all of the hard work, passion, and conviction that I first promised voters in 2016. Thank you, Washingtonians!