Race to Watch | Governor
Wyoming

If Gov. Matt Mead, a Republican, seeks reelection, the race will be similar to Georgia’s, since Wyoming’s own state Superintendent Cindy Hill is seeking to become governor. The difference is that Gov. Mead signed a law last year that stripped the state superintendent of virtually all her power. Ms. Hill, who was elected in 2010 like Gov. Mead and who has the support of tea party activists, last month won a court battle to have the law overturned.

Race to Watch | Governor
Wisconsin

Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s re-election bid will highlight numerous K-12 battles from his tenure. They include the provisions of a law he pushed through in 2011 that was fiercely opposed by teachers’ unions, school funding levels, and the ongoing fight to expand school choice.

Race to Watch | Superintendent
Oklahoma

The state’s A-F school accountability system has been a controversial subject for incumbent state Superintendent Janet Barresi, a Republican first elected in 2010. She could face ongoing questions about that system throughout 2014, as well as Republican challengers who might vigorously criticize the state’s adoption of the common core.

Race to Watch | Governor
Texas

Two of the candidates with the highest profiles are state Sen. Wendy Davis, a Democrat who has put forward a three-part education plan that would include major reforms for public school teachers, and state Attorney General Greg Abbott, who in a recent interview on a Texas radio station said that teachers are underpaid and also advocated for more school choice.

Race to Watch | Governor
Georgia

This race will pit incumbent Gov. Nathan Deal against current state schools’ Superintendent John Barge in the Republican primary. The common core promises to be a complicated subject, since both candidates have questioned changes related to the standards, such as new tests and suggested reading lists. There is also significant opposition to the standards among some grassroots GOP voters in the state. The race will also feature state Sen. Jason Carter, the grandson of former President Jimmy Carter and the only Democrat to have declared as of last week.

Race to Watch | Superintendent
South Carolina

With the impending retirement of state chief Mick Zais, there could be a crowded field to replace him in a state where the common core is under threat after a pledge by Gov. Nikki Haley, a Republican, to abandon the standards. Potential challengers in the GOP might face questions about their views on Gov. Haley’s proposed boost to K-12 funding, as well as school-choice policies.

Race to Watch | Governor
Florida

There’s a tough race ahead for incumbent GOP Gov. Rick Scott, not least because he’ll be tracking how the Common Core State Standards and aligned tests are playing in his state. Gov. Scott has ordered a review of the standards and has sent mixed signals about his support for the common core. He’ll also face teachers’ union members who are eager to replace him following K-12 budget cuts and controversial teacher-evaluation policies, as well as a high-profile Democratic challenger, former Gov. Charlie Crist, who served as a Republican.

Race to Watch | Governor
Pennsylvania

With low approval ratings, incumbent GOP Gov. Tom Corbett could face a difficult fight for re-election, and education could be one of his trickiest issues to handle. His demands for changes to Philadelphia schools in exchange for badly needed state funds have provoked controversy, and his pledge to make school funding more fair could be an attempt to broaden his political support in 2014.