2025 Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction election
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The 2025 Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction election is a state-wide election to be held on April 1, 2025, to elect the Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin for a four-year term. The incumbent superintendent, Jill Underly, first elected in 2021, is running for re-election. As more than two candidates are seeking the office, a nonpartisan primary election was held on February 18, 2025, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election.[1]
The filing deadline was January 7, 2025.
Primary election
[edit]While Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction elections are officially nonpartisan, media outlets have identified Jill Underly and Jeff Wright as Democratic-aligned candidates, and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin has endorsed Underly.[2] Brittany Kinser's campaign has been supported by the Republican Party of Wisconsin, though she has described herself as both a moderate and a Blue Dog Democrat.[3][4]
Advanced
[edit]- Brittany Kinser, education consultant[5]
- Jill Underly, incumbent superintendent (2021–present)[6]
Eliminated in primary
[edit]- Jeff Wright, Sauk Prairie superintendant and former Democratic candidate for State Assembly in 2016 and 2018[7]
Endorsements
[edit]Jill Underly
- U.S. Representatives
- Gwen Moore, U.S. representative from W-04 (2005–present)[8]
- State legislators
- LaTonya Johnson, state senator from the 6th district (2017–present)[9]
- Kelda Roys, state senator from the 26th district (2021–present)[10]
- Jeff Smith, state senator from the 31st district (2019–present)[11]
- Political parties
- Labor unions
Jeff Wright
- State legislators
- Dale Schultz, former state senator for the 17th district (1991–2015) (Republican)[13]
- Labor unions
Underly
- Underly—30–40%
- Underly—40–50%
- Underly—50–60%
Kinser
- Kinser—30–40%
- Kinser—40–50%
- Kinser—50–60%
Wright
- Wright—30–40%
- Wright—40–50%
- Wright—50–60%
Results
[edit]| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jill Underly (incumbent) | 177,397 | 38.0% | |
| Brittany Kinser | 161,586 | 34.6% | |
| Jeff Wright | 128,256 | 27.4% | |
| Write-in | |||
| Total votes | 467,239 | 100.00 | |
General election
[edit]Results
[edit]| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jill Underly (incumbent) | |||
| Brittany Kinser | |||
| Write-in | |||
| Total votes | 100.00 | ||
References
[edit]- ^ Karnopp, Hope. "Wisconsin's next elections are in February and April. Here's what's on the 2025 ballot". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
- ^ Spears, Baylor (December 5, 2024). "State superintendent race kicks off: Underly faces challenge from Sauk Prairie superintendent • Wisconsin Examiner". Wisconsin Examiner. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
Department of Public Instruction Superintendent Jill Underly, who is running for her second term in office with the backing of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, faces a challenge from Sauk Prairie School District Superintendent Jeff Wright, a Democrat who says he wants to improve DPI's communication.
- ^ "Wisconsin's top education official facing challengers on both flanks in 2025 primary". PBS Wisconsin. February 14, 2025. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
- ^ Meyerhofer, Kelly (February 13, 2025). "Brittany Kinser leads in 2025 Wisconsin superintendent race fundraising". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
- ^ "Reversing course, Kinser files for state schools superintendent race". Battleground Wisconsin. WisPolitics. December 17, 2024. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ a b "State superintendent race kicks off: Underly faces challenge from Sauk Prairie superintendent". Wisconsin Examiner. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
- ^ "Jeff Wright announces candidacy for Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public Instruction". WEAU News. October 7, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
- ^ "Underly campaign: Wisconsin Congresswoman Gwen Moore endorses Jill Underly for reelection as state superintendent". WisPolitics. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
- ^ "Underly campaign: Sen. LaTonya Johnson endorses Jill Underly for re-election as State Superintendent". WisPolitics. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ "Underly campaign: Sen. Kelda Roys endorses Jill Underly for re-election as state superintendent". WisPolitics. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ "Underly campaign: Wisconsin state Sen. Jeff Smith endorses Jill Underly for re-election as state superintendent". WisPolitics. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ "Underly campaign: Wisconsin AFL-CIO endorses Jill Underly for re-election as State Superintendent of Public Instruction". WisPolitics. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
- ^ "Former GOP State Sen. Dale Schulz endorses Jeff Wright for DPI superintendent; "Jeff brings people together"". Jeff Wright for State Superintendent (Press release). Retrieved January 17, 2025 – via WisPolitics.
- ^ "Association of Wisconsin School Administrators: School leaders support Jeff Wright for state Superintendent of Public Instruction". WisPolitics. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
- ^ "State Superintendent Jill Underly will face primary challenge in February". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved January 9, 2025.