Atlanta school superintendent Richard Woods secures GOP primary nod; will face Democrat Lydia Powell in November

Wed, 20 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Editorial Note: This article contains inaccuracies regarding Richard Woods’ tenure in office, ignoring his 2014 election and first term. It is currently under review by our editorial team.

Incumbent State School Superintendent Richard Woods secured the Republican nomination for a third term on Tuesday night, easily dispatching a primary challenger to advance to the November general election.

Woods will face Lydia Powell, a former DeKalb County middle-school principal and education-policy advocate, who won the Democratic nomination in an uncontested race. The general election matchup sets up a clear contrast between an incumbent who has championed a conservative education agenda — including expanded school choice and the science of reading — and a challenger who has focused on equitable funding, teacher pay, and reducing standardized testing.

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Atlanta school superintendent Richard Woods secures GOP primary nod; will face Democrat Lydia Powell in November