Incumbent Tom Torlakson defeated challenger Marshall Tuck in the race for California’s superintendent of public instruction, a heated contest that became the most expensive on the state ballot.

Each candidate raised more than $10 million, bringing widespread attention to the race.

Torlakson won financial support from the state’s teachers unions. Tuck’s money came primarily from wealthy donors and the advocacy groups they back. Both Torlakson and Tuck are Democrats, but their contest highlighted two competing visions for how to improve California’s schools.

Torlakson’s backers generally support increased funding for schools and oppose the use of standardized test data to evaluate teachers. Instead, they say that data should be used to inform instruction. Tuck’s supporters want to diminish the influence of teacher unions and use test scores to determine teacher pay and job security.

Torlakson defended teachers in his victory speech, describing them as under siege. But he also extended an olive branch to those with different ideas about public education.

“If you truly care about our schools, our children and their futures — wonderful,” he said. “Join us.”

Los Angeles Times, Nov. 5