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The close race for Idaho schools chief finally ended Wednesday after Republican incumbent Sherri Ybarra secured 51 percent of the vote, . Ybarra returns for a second term after also narrowly winning the election in 2014.

Ybarra faced off against Democrat and long-time Idaho teacher Cindy Wilson.

It’s official, Sherri Ybarra retains the State Superintendent of Public Instruction position with 51% of the vote. Ybarra wins by about 17,000 votes over Cindy Wilson. That is a greater margin than she won with in 2014

鈥� Joe Parris (@KTVBJoe)

The superintendent in Idaho runs a school system of nearly 300,000 K-12 students with a budget of nearly $2 billion. While Idaho schools perform slightly above average on national tests, its 80 percent graduation rate is a few points below other states and teacher pay ranks among the bottom of national comparisons. Idaho is one of six states that does not have a preschool program.

鈥淥ur graduation rate is going up and our teachers in Idaho need to be commended for that great work,鈥� Ybarra said, according to . 鈥淎ny gain we make in public education is to be celebrated.鈥�

Both candidates have experience as teachers and both attended Idaho colleges, but Ybarra has education administration experience while Wilson does not.

Ybarra has made teacher pay and school safety her , but she didn鈥檛 run a traditional campaign like her competitor. Wilson emphasized fundraising and growing her social media following.. Still Ybarra prevailed.

Wilson had campaigned on boosting student achievement, recruiting teachers, and creating public-private partnerships to support early childhood education..

鈥淔or me to run against a Republican incumbent in Idaho was kind of crazy,鈥� Wilson told. 鈥淭he fact that we have done as well as we have is really just so positive and I鈥檓 very pleased with what we鈥檝e been able to do.鈥�

EDlection2018: This is one of several dozen races that could go on to influence state or federal education policy. Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox; sign up for 社区黑料 Newsletter.

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