San Diego Union Urges State Teachers Union to Rescind Barrera Endorsement

The endorsement of Richard Barrera's campaign for state superintendent has reopened old labor wounds in California.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The leader of a local union that San Diego Unified Trustee Richard Barrera once helped lead has called on the California Teachers Association to withdraw its endorsement of Barrera's campaign for state superintendent. The letter brings up lingering resentments from a past sexual harassment scandal and political battle that reshaped the local labor movement, with the union leader claiming Barrera failed to stand up to the accused harasser. However, state and local education union leaders are standing firm in their support for Barrera's candidacy.

Why it matters

The unexpected CTA endorsement of Barrera's campaign has elevated him from a longshot to a serious contender, so the potential revocation of that endorsement could crush his chances. The letter also highlights ongoing tensions within the California labor movement stemming from past scandals and power struggles.

The details

In a letter, UFCW Local 135 president Todd Walters accused Barrera of inaction and failing to stand with women who were harmed by sexual harassment allegations against former labor leader Mickey Kasparian. Walters claims Barrera was a close ally of Kasparian and 'part of that decision-making' when Kasparian helped orchestrate a messy split within the labor movement. Barrera denies Walters' characterization of his role, saying he has focused on supporting educators and students.

  • In 2016, a series of women credibly accused Kasparian of sexual harassment.
  • Kasparian's rule over the San Diego-Imperial Labor Council only ended when the AFL-CIO removed him and placed the Council into receivership in the late 2010s.
  • UFCW Local 135 membership ousted Kasparian, and Barrera was voted out as secretary-treasurer in the same election, in the years following the scandal.

The players

Richard Barrera

A San Diego Unified Trustee who is running for California state superintendent of public instruction.

Todd Walters

The president of UFCW Local 135, a union that Barrera once helped lead.

Mickey Kasparian

The former head of UFCW Local 135 and the San Diego-Imperial Labor Council, who was accused of sexual harassment in the late 2010s.

David Goldberg

The president of the California Teachers Association, the state's largest teachers union.

Kyle Weinberg

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

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What they’re saying

“If Barrera could not stand up to a bully within his own organization, nor stand with women who were harmed under his watch, it is fair to question how he would stand up for the children, educators, and families of California.”

— Todd Walters, President, UFCW Local 135 (voiceofsandiego.org)

“He is someone who has the deep understanding of what it will take to win the schools our students deserve. We are confident in the outcome of our union's democratic endorsement process and couldn't be more excited about what this election means for every student and educator in California.”

— David Goldberg, President, California Teachers Association (voiceofsandiego.org)

“Here in San Diego, we know Richard Barrera as a warrior for working people and for our students. We've worked side-by-side to win transformative victories for our entire community. We unequivocally support Richard Barrera for state superintendent.”

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

What’s next

There are no clear next steps mentioned in the article, as the focus is on the ongoing dispute over the CTA's endorsement of Barrera's campaign.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the lingering tensions within the California labor movement stemming from past scandals and power struggles, and the potential political ramifications of the CTA's endorsement of Barrera's campaign for state superintendent.