What to know about the crowded race to defeat the incumbent Georgia state school superintendent

A man with a white beard and mustache talks to microphones in a hallway.
Georgia State School Superintendent Richard Woods talks to reporters at the Georgia State Capitol during candidate qualifying.

(Matthew Pearson/WABE)

The race for the next Georgia state school superintendent is packed full of candidates vying to challenge the incumbent, Richard Woods, as the state faces low literacy rates.

Woods has held the position for three terms since he took office in 2015. 

A total of eight candidates are on May 19 primary ballots, with five Republicans and three Democrats.