Becky Sundin Mitchell
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Becky Sundin Mitchell, Democratic candidate for Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction
Becky Sundin Mitchell, a Democrat and a science teacher, is a candidate for Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction in the November 3, 2026 general election. She filed on February 26, 2026, and the Idaho Secretary of State lists the filing as approved. She won the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary unopposed, with 43,348 votes, according to the Idaho Secretary of State's certified results. Her opponents are Republican incumbent Debbie Critchfield and Constitution Party candidate Teresa Roundy.
Background
The Idaho State Department of Education's Teacher of the Year list shows "2018 – Becky Mitchell, Vision Charter School, Caldwell." Idaho Education News reported in March 2026: "Sundin Mitchell was named the 2018 Idaho Teacher of the Year."
The outlet also reported that she earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry education from Northwest Nazarene University in 1998, a master's degree in science education from Montana State University-Bozeman in 2005 and a Doctor of Education from Walden University. It reported that she taught before Idaho in Oregon, taught science and English for 14 years at Vision Charter School in Caldwell from 2009 to 2023, and then worked as an instructional coach at Elevate Academy in Nampa.
In a CBS2/FOX9 candidate survey in August 2026 she described herself as "an educator, currently teaching middle school science in Caldwell."
Political history
Idaho Education News reported that she "changed her voter registration to the Democratic Party after the general election in November 2020, according to her Canyon County voting record," and that she became chair of the Canyon County Democratic Party. It reported that she ran for the Caldwell City Council in 2023 and finished last, and that she declared a campaign treasurer for Idaho House District 10 Seat B and terminated that campaign. The outlet reported: "She said she is a moderate."
The same report said her campaign "stumbled out of the gate" with a confusing press release from the Idaho Democratic Party.
Positions
In the CBS2/FOX9 survey she wrote: "Under the current conditions, no, I am not in favor of continuing school choice tax credits." She also wrote that recruiting and keeping teachers requires "competitive compensation and benefits, especially in line with our neighboring states."
Idaho Education News quoted her at her June 2026 campaign kickoff: "The thing that I hear everywhere I go is, 'How on earth are we giving $50 million to private schools?'" At the September 22, 2026 debate she said, according to Idaho Education News: "Until we can fully fund public schools, we should never be sending money to private schools." On special education she said: "It couldn't be a more broken system."
The October debate
CBS2 reported on October 1, 2026 that Critchfield withdrew from a KTVB debate unless Roundy was included. Critchfield said: "I also asked my Democratic opponent to join me in requesting that all three candidates be included. She declined." Sundin Mitchell said that description "misrepresents what happened." She said: "Again, I welcome Roundy's participation but honor my commitment and the common participation criteria media outlets use for their debate forums."
Supporters
Rep. Steve Berch, a Boise Democrat, said at her kickoff: "We can do a better job of adequately supporting public education with a superintendent who will make sure that taxpayer dollars go to public schools and not private and religious schools." Supporter Aimee Michels Lichtenhan said: "She's been inside the classroom. She knows what the kids are struggling with, and she knows where the needs are, and she's got a solid plan for how to make things a little bit better than they already are."
Campaign finance
The Idaho Capital Sun listed Sundin Mitchell at $21,229 in contributions as of September 30, 2026, according to Idaho Sunshine. It listed Critchfield at $156,062 and Roundy at $0.
Sources
- Idaho Secretary of State, May 2026 certified results, the Democratic primary vote
- Idaho State Department of Education, Teacher of the Year, the 2018 award
- Idaho Education News, March 5, 2026, her education, career and political history
- CBS2/FOX9, 2026 Superintendent candidate survey, her answers
- Idaho Education News, June 15, 2026, her campaign kickoff
- Idaho Education News, September 22, 2026, the debate
- CBS2, October 1, 2026, the withdrawn debate
- Idaho Capital Sun, October 2, 2026, statewide fundraising totals
Profile published by IdahoVoters.com. Last updated October 2, 2026. This profile will be updated as additional information becomes available.
Frequently asked questions
- What office is Becky Sundin Mitchell running for?
- She is the Democratic candidate for Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction in the November 3, 2026 general election. Her opponents are Debbie Critchfield and Teresa Roundy.
- What is Becky Sundin Mitchell's background?
- She is a science teacher listed as the 2018 Idaho Teacher of the Year, and she taught at Vision Charter School in Caldwell from 2009 to 2023.
- What are Becky Sundin Mitchell's degrees?
- Idaho Education News reported a bachelor's degree in chemistry education from Northwest Nazarene University, a master's in science education from Montana State University-Bozeman and a Doctor of Education from Walden University.
- What is Becky Sundin Mitchell's position on school choice tax credits?
- She wrote in a CBS2/FOX9 survey that under the current conditions she is not in favor of continuing school choice tax credits.
- Did Becky Sundin Mitchell refuse to debate?
- Critchfield said she asked Sundin Mitchell to join a request to include Roundy and that she declined. Sundin Mitchell said that account misrepresents what happened.
- How much money has Becky Sundin Mitchell raised?
- The Idaho Capital Sun listed her at $21,229 in contributions as of September 30, 2026, according to Idaho Sunshine, compared with $156,062 for Critchfield.