(The Center Square) – Incumbent Department of Public Instruction Superintendent Jill Underly and challenger Brittany Kinser will advance to the April 1 election after the pair defeated Jeff Wright on Tuesday night in the spring primary.
Underly held 38.0% of the vote compared to 34.5% for Kinser and 27.5% for Wright with more than 95% of precincts reported, according to totals compiled by The Associated Press.
“Jeff Wright ran a strong race and we agree on several important issues like restoring the high standards Jill Underly lowered for our children,” Kinser said in a statement. “I am committed to restoring those standards and ensuring every child has the opportunity to go to college, get a meaningful job, or master a trade. I welcome Jeff, his supporters, and all Wisconsinites – regardless of their political beliefs – who agree that our kids deserve SO MUCH better to join our campaign.”
Underly and the other candidates thanked their supporters in statements. Underly touted her work funding schools and said the state now has its highest graduation rates in history.
“My opponent, Brittany Kinser, is a former lobbyist who has never held a teaching license in the State of Wisconsin,” Underly said. “She has lobbied to drain funds from our public schools and give it to private schools. She’s even advocated to remove teacher licensing requirements. Those policies will put our public schools on a dangerous race to the bottom.”
Underly was winning a large majority of the vote in both Dane and Milwaukee counties with 50% of the Dane County vote and 47% in Milwaukee County compared to 36% for Wright in Dane and 13% for Kinser and 28% for Wright in Milwaukee along with 25% for Kinser.
A recent poll from City Forward Collective, a a school choice organization, showed that Milwaukee voters were uncertain on Underly compared to other Democratic politicians.
“Tonight, voters took a stand against the far-left policies of Jill Underly,” Wisconsin GOP Chairman Brian Schimming said in a statement about Kinser advancing. “They are fed up with liberal ideas being prioritized over their children. We look forward to building on this momentum as we head into the Spring General Election.”
The DPI superintendent race was the only statewide race on the ballot while the Wisconsin Supreme Court race between Judge Brad Schimel and Judge Susan Crawford will headline the April 1 statewide election.
The judges will debate March 12 on WISN TV in Milwaukee.
“I got into this race because I believe that Wisconsin should always be at the forefront of innovation and excellence in public education,” Wright said in a statement following his loss. “Our districts deserve better from the Department of Public Instruction because Wisconsin’s kids and communities deserve the absolute best from our schools.”
