The San Francisco Chronicle has called the statewide race for superintendent of public instruction, with retired public school superintendent Larry Aceves and state Assemblyman Tom Torlakson facing each other in a November run-off.

State Senator Gloria Romero of Los Angeles finished a somewhat surprising third and won't move ahead.

The race for state superintendent was very tight, with the top three candidates within a few thousand votes of each other.

The November run-off will shape up to be something of an age-old battle in education circles: teachers versus administrators.

Torlakson, a former teacher years ago, is endorsed by the powerful California Teachers Association, while Aceves has strong backing from a vast number of public school superintendents and principals.

Contact Patrick Range McDonald at pmcdonald@laweekly.com.

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