1. Tony Krajewski Thurmond was born on August 21,1968 and is an American politician and educator, serving as the 28th California State Superintendent of Public Instruction since 2019.
14 Facts About Tony Thurmond
1. 2.
Tony Thurmond was a member of the California Legislative Latino Caucus, California Legislative Black Caucus, and California Legislative Jewish Caucus.
3.
Tony Thurmond is the second African American to hold the office of Superintendent, and the fourth African American to win statewide office in California following former Superintendent Wilson Riles, former Lieutenant Governor Mervyn Dymally, and former Attorney General and US Senator Kamala Harris.
4.
Tony Thurmond's cousins practiced Hebrew Pentecostalism, a Black religious tradition with roots in the Old Testament, observing Jewish practices such as keeping a kosher home and celebrating the Sabbath and major Jewish holidays.
5.
Tony Thurmond attended Temple University, where he served as student body president, and went on to earn dual master's degrees in law and social policy and social work from Bryn Mawr College.
6.
Tony Thurmond has held positions with several nonprofit social service organizations.
7.
Tony Thurmond was the council liaison to the West Contra Costa County Unified School District and the West Contra Costa County Education Fund.
8.
Tony Thurmond served as council liaison to Richmond's Youth Commission and Workforce Investment Board.
9.
On September 15,2017, Tony Thurmond introduced a resolution in the California State Assembly calling for the Congressional censure of President Donald Trump following his remarks after racially charged events in Charlottesville.
10.
Tony Thurmond won the November 2018 election, beating opponent Marshall Tuck, a Democrat and charter school advocate.
11.
On December 11,2021, Politico reported that Tony Thurmond had been instrumental in the July 2020 hiring of longtime associate Daniel Lee, "a psychologist, life coach and self-help author", for the position of "superintendent of equity" for the California Department of Education.
12.
In September 26,2023, Tony Thurmond announced via Twitter his intention to run for Governor of California in 2026.
13.
Tony Thurmond was introduced to Judaism by his cousins who practiced Hebrew Pentecostalism, and he maintains a connection to Jewish practice and community, guided by Rabbi Rebekah Stern of Congregation Beth El in Berkeley, California.
14.
Tony Thurmond describes himself as "a convert who's never been through a formal conversion," and his Jewish identity informs his public service, including his work on Holocaust education and fighting antisemitism in California schools.