California superintendent candidate Frank Lara did not join EdSource’s April virtual candidate forums, but was later invited to answer similar questions in a separate video interview ahead of the June 2 primary.
For voters trying to compare how candidates for California superintendent of public instruction would handle the day-to-day realities of public schools, April was supposed to be the moment when the race became audible. Frank Lara’s name stayed off that stage.
Lara. a candidate for the nonpartisan elected office that currently oversees California’s public schools. did not participate in EdSource’s virtual candidate forums in April. Instead. EdSource later invited him to answer similar questions in a separate video interview so readers could still hear directly from him.
The timing matters because EdSource’s forums weren’t open to every participant on the ballot. To qualify. candidates had to have been elected to public office in a role involving shaping education policy. overseeing schools. or both. EdSource reported that six of the 10 candidates on the ballot met that requirement. which meant Lara’s absence from the forum lineup could not be explained away as a lack of interest from voters alone—it was tied to how the forums were structured in the first place.
EdSource’s election coverage framed the June 2 California Primary Election as a major turning point for public education in the state. The outlet also said it hosted forums on April 21 and 22, with candidates discussing issues affecting students, families, and schools across California.
When Lara wasn’t in those April conversations, the campaign’s message still found a route in—just not the one voters were watching. EdSource shared the separate video interview for Lara through an embedded YouTube link.
The race for state superintendent of public instruction is now heading into its next phase with voters set to compare what candidates said on camera and how they chose to show up. For Lara, the difference is clear: April’s forum stage was missed, but the questions returned in a different format.
Frank Lara California superintendent of public instruction EdSource election 2026 June 2 primary candidate forums video Q&A public schools
So he skipped the forums but still got a video… convenient.
Not gonna lie, this sounds like PR. If you can do a video Q&A then why not show up when everyone else did. Voters are trying to compare people and dude is just doing his own thing.
I mean, maybe he didn’t qualify for the forum or whatever? Like the article says it wasn’t open to every candidate, right? But then they still invited him later so it’s kind of the same thing. Also YouTube embedded link sounds like they’re trying to control the narrative more than inform people.
Forums weren’t open to everyone on the ballot… so he got filtered out? That’s wild. Like are they saying he’s not an “elected” person enough to be there? But then later they let him answer similar questions so he’s obviously still relevant. I just don’t like that voters didn’t get to see him in April when it mattered, kind of looks like dodging even if it’s “structured.”