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California’s June 2 primary election is months away but the two candidates vying for the open position of San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools, Chelsea Bonini and Héctor Camacho, are already raising thousands of dollars for their campaign, with Camacho far ahead in contributions.
In the most recent campaign finance statements, covering July through December 2025, Camacho reported receiving a total of $102,432. Bonini raised $21,974.
Bonini and Camacho are both veteran leaders in county government, and both currently hold positions within the county office of education. The superintendent of schools is responsible for the operation of the San Mateo County Office of Education and provides support to the county’s 23 school districts.
Current Superintendent of Schools Nancy Magee is set to retire on Feb. 19, almost a year before her term ends in January 2027.
Héctor Camacho
Camacho’s campaign focuses on expanding early childhood education and childcare services, supporting professional development for school staff and addressing the teacher shortage. He’s endorsed by Magee.
Camacho is the executive director of the San Mateo County Office of Education and previously served 11 years on the county Board of Education. Before that, he spent more than two decades serving as a paraprofessional, classroom teacher, school leader and university administrator.
His campaign donors include former state Sen. Joe Simitian, East Palo Alto Mayor Antonio Lopez and Congressman Kevin Mullin’s campaign committee.
Camacho’s largest contributions, of $5,900 each, came from: Elizabeth Haham, an education administrator; Menlo Park resident Karen Grove; Helen Nakai from South San Francisco; and the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees – Council 57.
Additional donations ranged from $25-$1,000 from Camacho’s supporters.
His expenditures amounted to $6,147 for campaigning materials, T-shirts and tickets for events such as the San Mateo County Latinx Democratic Club’s Summer Fiesta, which Camacho attended.
To learn more about Camacho’s campaign visit votehector.com.
Chelsea Bonini
Bonini has served on the county Board of Education since 2020 and announced she was joining the race shortly after Magee announced her retirement plans in April 2025. Bonini began her career as a kindergarten teacher in the South San Francisco Unified School District and has 30 years of experience in education, law, and public service. Her campaign is prioritizing literary strategies, expanding mental health resources and increasing funding for schools.
For the most recent filing period, Bonini’s largest contributions of $1,000 each came from Katherine Welch, a Piedmont resident, and Jared Bobrow, attorney at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. The campaign committee of State Sen. Josh Becker, who endorsed Bonini, donated $500.
Other contributions ranged between $25 to $500 from residents in San Mateo, Palo Alto, San Jose, Redwood City and San Carlos, plus one out-of-state supporter. She received $625 in nonmonetary contributions from litigation analyst Matthew Bonini for window signs and subscriptions
Bonini’s campaign expenditures surpassed Camacho’s by a few hundred dollars, for a total amount of $6,765. During this period, she reported spending $6,000 on services from Axial Media and Communications, an Oakland-based media consultant.
For more information on Bonini’s campaign visit votebonini.com.
