Kimberly Yee Launches Fundraising Push in Race for Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction
MARANA, Ariz. — Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee is continuing to build momentum in her 2026 campaign for Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction, with supporters organizing a fundraising luncheon next month in Southern Arizona.
According to an event flyer released this week, community leaders Wendy Karahalios, Debe and Rand Fleenor, and Shelley Kais will host a lunch reception in support of Yee on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at the Saguaro Ranch Clubhouse in Marana.
The event is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and is expected to bring together Republican donors, education supporters, and community leaders as Yee expands her statewide campaign network ahead of the July Republican primary.
Suggested contributions for attendees begin at $250, while host committee donations are listed at $1,000. Arizona campaign finance law allows individuals to contribute up to $5,500 per election cycle.
Yee, a longtime Arizona Republican and current state treasurer, is campaigning on a platform centered around academic performance, school choice, parental rights, and what she describes as “protecting educational freedom.”
In campaign materials, Yee states that “Arizona children, families, and teachers deserve a State Superintendent who will deliver real results,” while also pledging to defend educational freedom in Arizona schools.
Yee is widely known across Arizona politics, having previously served in both the Arizona House of Representatives and Arizona Senate before being elected State Treasurer. During her years in state government, she built a reputation among conservatives for advocating fiscal discipline, financial literacy education, and school choice initiatives.
Her campaign for Superintendent comes as education policy remains one of the most closely watched political issues in Arizona. Topics including curriculum transparency, school funding, standardized testing, parental involvement, and diversity-related programs have become central themes in Republican primary debates statewide.
Yee is expected to face incumbent Superintendent Tom Horne in what political observers anticipate could become one of Arizona’s highest-profile Republican primary contests in 2026.
Supporters say Yee’s broad statewide name recognition, fundraising ability, and long political résumé could make her a formidable challenger. Meanwhile, Horne has continued emphasizing issues such as school discipline, academic standards, and opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
The June fundraiser reflects Yee’s effort to strengthen donor support and grassroots engagement outside the Phoenix metropolitan area as the campaign enters a more competitive phase.
Arizona’s 2026 primary election is scheduled for July 21.
