Republican State Treasurer Kimberly Yee is setting her sights on a new role–superintendent of public instruction. Yee is challenging incumbent Tom Horne, a fellow republican. She announced her bid this morning through a video posted on social media.
“Arizona’s children are too important for empty promises and cheap campaign lip service,” her campaign video said. “It’s time for real results. It’s time for Kimberly Yee for Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction."
Over recent weeks, Republican circles, such as the Freedom Caucus, have pushed for a state education leader who would better support issues like universal school vouchers. Conservative leaders, including Senator Jake Hoffman, see Yee as the answer.
I’m proud of @KimberlyYeeAZ for stepping up to serve our state yet again!
— Jake Hoffman (@JakeHoffmanAZ) May 28, 2025
She has unrivaled education policy expertise & a deep respect for the legislative process making her the perfect person to oversee & protect AZ’s wildly popular ESA program.
Yee for State Superintendent! https://t.co/j01OHZeyOl
Horne has also long advocated for universal school voucher funding, but has recently faced criticism for encouraging spending limits on supplementary items like home economics equipment. Some republicans see this move as an overreach.
“Tom Horne is the single greatest threat to school choice,” Hoffman told reporters back in April. “Tom Horne is the single greatest threat to the ESA program.”
Horne pushed back on Hoffman’s claims.
I brought school choice to Arizona in the 90s with my legislation. I've fought to protect school choice from a liberal Governor and Attorney General for the past two years. I'm the only statewide candidate to beat an incumbent in the General Election in over 50 years. Let me know… https://t.co/w09Uz76Oxy
— SPI Tom Horne (@RealTomHorne) April 2, 2025
Yee served in the Arizona House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013 and later in the Senate from 2013 to 2019. Arizonans voted Yee into her current role as the state’s top financial officer. In January 2021, she announced her bid for Governor but withdrew in 2022 to re-run for treasurer.
