Incumbent Dr. Michele Cantwell-Copher held a strong lead in her effort to win re-election as Superintendent of Fresno County Schools on Tuesday night.

However, with 18% of the vote counted, she was short of the threshold to retain her post and avoid a November runoff.

Cantwell-Copher had 42.78% support, followed by challengers Dr. Eimear O’Brien at 29.47% and Dr. Johnny Alvarado at 27.38%.

To win a race outright in the primary, a candidate must secure 50% plus one vote.

Updated results are available at this link.

Superintendents serve four-year terms, and there are no term limits.

How the Race Shaped Up

In June 2022, Cantwell Copher was elected to the position with 68% of the vote, becoming the first woman to serve as Fresno County Superintendent. She launched her reelection campaign in January.

In May, GV Wire discovered discrepancies in Cantwell Copher’s endorsement list with three listed individuals confirming neutrality in the race.

O’Brien, a former Clovis Unified Superintendent, declared her intent to seek office in December 2024, exiting a short-lived retirement.

Her candidacy was boosted by heavyweight endorsements from former Fresno County superintendents Larry Powell and Jim Yovino, and Mayor Jerry Dyer.

Alvarado announced his candidacy for Fresno County Superintendent in late August 2025 and officially kicked off his campaign in October.

Alvarado touts 30 years of experience across seven school districts across Fresno County. He has worked at all levels of education, spending time as a teacher, principal, and administrative leader.

However, recent reports by ABC30 have unveiled cracks in his employment history, including separation agreements and paid administrative leave.

Comparing and Fact-Checking Candidate Credentials

Under Cantwell -Copher, the county saw a 4% rise in English Language Arts scores and a .21% increase in math since the 2022-23 school year.

Cantwell-Copher asserts she has prioritized fiscal responsibility while in office, gaining $2 million in staffing savings and balancing school budgets.

O’Brien served as superintendent of Clovis Unified School District from 2017 until 2023, navigating pandemic-related issues.

Prior to the pandemic, district scores rose about 3% in ELA and 2% in math. In 2023, when O’Brien retired, scores were down about 9% and 8%, respectively, but remained far above the state average.

Alvarado touted massive gains in ELA and math testing during his tenure as principal of Bullard High School post-pandemic and moderate improvements in Parlier Unified.

However, he calculated the gains by “relative change, which artificially inflated the results.

The state and local districts measure results through percentage point changes, which leaves Alvarado with a depleted but overall positive report card.

He also used his method of calculation to artificially inflate Clovis Unified performance drop under O’Brien, which caused heated debate between the two candidates.

O’Brien dedicated a portion of her campaign website to disputing these claims.