Supt. Tom Horne ‘viscerally opposed’ to racially charged ad targeting GOP rival Kimberly Yee

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne strongly condemns a racially charged ad slamming his GOP opponent in the primary election, calling it “wrong” and saying he wants it changed.

“I am shocked by the ad. I think it’s wrong to appeal to ethnic prejudice. Very wrong,” Horne told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Tuesday.

California PAC paid for political attack ad against Kimberly Yee

The 15-second ad slams Kimberly Yee, who is Chinese American, as “the empress of DEI,” with stereotypically Asian background music, background images and typography.

Yee has slammed the ad as racist, publicly accusing Horne and his supporters of “revolting racist attacks.”

Tom Horne and his supporters’ revolting racist attacks have no place in Arizona.

No matter how low they go, I will stay focused on the job before us — improving educational opportunities for Arizona children.

Unlike Tom Horne & his supporters, I campaign on results, not racism. pic.twitter.com/khikGA9XpD

— Kimberly Yee (@KimberlyYeeAZ) June 30, 2026

“They’re reverting to overt racism,” Yee said in a Tuesday statement. “Unlike Tom Horne and his supporters, I campaign on results, not racism.”

Tom Horne says he wants ’empress of DEI’ ad taken off air

However, Horne swears he had nothing to do with the ad, which was paid for by Arizonans for Election Integrity. (Despite the name, it’s based in California.)

“This is an out-of-state political action committee. By law, I am not allowed to have any communication with them, and I have not had any communication with them,” Horne said.

He also said he wants the ad to either be changed to remove the racially charged elements or withdrawn completely.

“I am viscerally opposed to it, and I have publicly requested that they withdraw the ad or at least repeal the part that may appeal to ethnic prejudice,” Horne said. “I’m very strongly asking that the ad be withdrawn.”

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