(The Center Square) – Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Superintendent Jill Underly won another term Tuesday as she held off a challenge from Republican Brittany Kinser in the race to lead Wisconsin’s K-12 education department.
Underly held 52.9% of the statewide vote compared to 47.1% for Kinser as of 4 a.m. central time Wednesday.
“This victory belongs to all of us who believe in the power of public education,” Underly said in a statement. “It’s a testament to our shared commitment to ensuring that every child in Wisconsin has access to a high-quality education, regardless of their zip code. Together, we’ve championed the belief that public dollars should fund public schools, and tonight, that belief has been reaffirmed.”
Kinser conceded the race but said she is committed to continue working to have 95% of Wisconsin students read proficiently. Kinser is the former head of Milwaukee-based City Forward Collective, a school choice advocacy group.
“While this is not the outcome I had hoped for, I hope that my candidacy has inspired conversations about the importance of restoring high standards and ensuring every child can read, write, and do math well, so they have the opportunity to go to college, secure a meaningful job, or master a trade,” Kinser said. “We know that our children meet expectations when standards are set high.”
The race saw less spending and fanfare than the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, where Judge Susan Crawford defeated Brad Schimel, but the election results were similar in what was described by some as a spring election with record turnout.
“Jill is the champion that our kids need leading the Department of Public Instruction, bringing new ideas to the table to ensure the best educational outcomes for students across Wisconsin,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler. “She has stood up to partisan attacks on public education and bolstered our schools by helping to pass new bipartisan literacy legislation and raising standards to ensure our kids are set up for success.”
City Forward Collective said in a statement that it will continue with its mission despite the defeat of Kinser.
“Whether Wisconsin voters elected new leadership or re-elected Superintendent Jill Underly, our focus remains unchanged: returning to rigorous standards, empowering parents with accurate information and high-quality school choices, and advocating for bold, evidence-backed solutions that ensure every student is prepared for a career, for college, and a thriving life,” the group said.
