San Diego Unified Teachers Union Backs Veteran Educator for School Board

Hayden Gore, a former teachers union president, is the union's pick to replace outgoing Trustee Cody Petterson.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 8:23pm

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The race to replace Trustee Cody Petterson on the San Diego Unified School Board may be over before it even begins, as the powerful teachers union has already endorsed veteran educator Hayden Gore to fill the seat. Gore, a former teachers union president who helped unionize the High Tech High charter network, is seen as the union's preferred candidate and is expected to have their full backing in the race.

Why it matters

The San Diego Education Association, the union representing San Diego Unified teachers, is the biggest power player in school board elections. Their early endorsement of Gore effectively shuts out any other Democratic challengers and solidifies his path to victory. This highlights the union's outsized influence in district politics and raises questions about whether voters will have a meaningful choice in the election.

The details

Gore, an 18-year veteran educator, is a vocal progressive who previously served as the president of the High Tech Education Collective, the union that organized the teachers at the High Tech High charter network. The San Diego Education Association announced its endorsement of Gore just three months after Petterson announced he would not be running for re-election, a full six months earlier than their typical endorsement timeline. Union President Kyle Weinberg said the union felt Gore was the candidate "most equipped to be able to advocate for our union educator values on the board."

  • Petterson announced he would not be running for re-election in September 2025.
  • The San Diego Education Association endorsed Hayden Gore in September 2025, nine months before the June 2026 primary election.

The players

Hayden Gore

An 18-year veteran educator and former president of the High Tech Education Collective, the union that organized teachers at the High Tech High charter network. He is the San Diego Education Association's endorsed candidate to replace outgoing Trustee Cody Petterson on the San Diego Unified School Board.

Cody Petterson

The outgoing San Diego Unified School Board Trustee representing coastal areas, who announced he will not be running for re-election.

Kyle Weinberg

The president of the San Diego Education Association, the union representing San Diego Unified teachers.

Richard Barrera

A longtime San Diego Unified School Board Trustee.

James Carter

A former director of homelessness programs at the city of San Diego and current director of program management at Family Health Centers of San Diego, who considered running for the school board seat but ultimately decided not to.

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What they’re saying

“When we were like, 'Who should we recruit to run for this school board seat?' There was one obvious answer and that was Hayden Gore. We were very fortunate that Hayden said 'yes.'”

— Kyle Weinberg, President, San Diego Education Association (voiceofsandiego.org)

“I believe in you, and this board will support you. We finally have a great team and we're all very confident you're going to do amazing things for our kids.”

— Cody Petterson, Outgoing San Diego Unified School Board Trustee (voiceofsandiego.org)

“Everybody had goosebumps walking away from that experience. That is what education means to him, to create that spark in students. We're so grateful and can't wait to see him in this leadership role.”

— Parent of one of Hayden Gore's students (voiceofsandiego.org)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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