Incumbent State Superintendent Jill Underly and choice school advocate Brittany Kinser were the top two vote getters in a field of three in Tuesday’s primary race to head the Department of Public Instruction.
The victor in the April 1 general election will be faced with managing the ongoing debate over how student achievement is measured and a brewing national fight over the possible shutdown of the Department of Education.
Underly, who was backed by the Democratic Party, received 160,097 votes. Kinser, who was endorsed by the conservative Moms for Liberty, received 154,135 votes, according to unofficial totals Tuesday.
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Challenger, Sauk Prairie School District Superintendent Jeff Wright, received 119,623 votes.
In a statement Wright said he was proud of his campaign.
“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. “Our districts deserve better from the Department of Public Instruction because Wisconsin’s kids and communities deserve the absolute best from our schools.”
On Tuesday, Underly said she’s proud of the things she has accomplished, including “implementing higher standards in math and science,” and the “highest graduation rate in state history.”
“I think it’s also very clear that what voters don’t want, and I think when we look at, my opponent now in the April election, Brittany, I think that that message is being resoundingly rejected,” Underly said. “Wisconsinites love their public schools and we have to make sure that we keep these public schools top notch for future generations to come.”
Underly was first elected in 2021 and has used her first term to champion special education, mental health and inclusivity in schools. She asked Legislators for a $4 billion boost in the next state budget.
On Tuesday, Gov. Tony Evers unveiled the 2025-2027 budget proposal, which included $3.1 billion for education.
Kinser, of Wauwatosa, leads her own education consulting firm. Before that, she was the head of Wisconsin’s Rocketship Schools, which is part of a national network of public charter schools.
She was also the past president of City Forward Collective, a Milwaukee-based education nonprofit that advocates for charter and voucher schools.
Kinser said was motivated to run to restore high academic standards and make sure children have the skills they will need to succeed in college, trade school, or work.
Kinser said Tuesday’s results show families are not OK with the status quo.
“It’s not OK that only three out of 10 children are reading, writing and doing math,” Kinser said. “And we know that we can raise the standards and we can do better for our children.”
Kinser thanked Wright for running a strong campaign and raising important issues and asked his supporters to join her.
“We need to restore high academic standards cut by Jill Underly,” she said.
While the state-wide seat is non–partisan, Underly and Kinser are backed by opposing political factions.
Underly was endorsed by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Wisconsin AFL-CIO the Wisconsin American Federation of Teachers and Citizen Action of Wisconsin.
She has spoken out against the Trump administration’s desire to dismantle the Department of Education and the need for the GOP-led Wisconsin Legislature to provide more funding for public schools.
The Wisconsin Democratic Party gave Underly’s campaign $106,000 this month.
Meanwhile, Kinser’s endorsements include Mom’s for Liberty, and she has appeared alongside conservative state Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel at events.
The Wisconsin Republican Party has given $200,000 to Kinser’s campaign.
Editor’s note: WPR reporter Anna Marie Yanny contributed to this report.
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