PHOENIX — Incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman lengthened her lead over Republican challenger Tom Horne on Saturday evening.
Hoffman leads by 9,405, up 2,740 votes from the previous day, 50.2% to 49.8%, according to results posted around 6 p.m. by Arizona’s Secretary of State’s Office.
Election Day ended with Hoffman ahead 54.7%-45.3%, but Horne took over the lead on Wednesday.
Hoffman, who was a teacher and speech therapist before running for office, took control in 2019, while Horne previously served as the Arizona schools chief from 2003-11.
Horne was elected attorney general in 2010, a post he lost in the 2014 GOP primary after being caught using his office staff to run his reelection campaign.
Hoffman added millions of dollars into school safety programs to add hundreds of school counselors and social workers.
She told KTAR News 92.3 FM that her priority in her next term will be centered around school safety by shifting focus back onto a school safety task force she created at the start of her last term.
Hoffman oversaw the school system during the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During their debate in September, Horne said schools were shut down for far too long under Hoffman’s watch.
Hoffman defended her response, saying that in hindsight she may have made slightly different decision, but not substantially so, noting her intentions were to keep students and their parents safe and alive.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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