State Superintendent Jill Underly won reelection for a second term against challenger and education consultant Brittany Kinser Tuesday night.
As of 10 p.m. Tuesday, Underly secured 52.8% of the vote with 77% reporting. Kinser falls short with 47.2%.
“I’m just deeply honored and humbled by the trust that you’ve placed in me to continue serving as your state superintendent of public instruction,” Underly said Tuesday night.
Underly, backed by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, has served the state since 2021 and aimed to improve teacher welfare and diversify the workforce in her second term. She strongly opposed the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education by President Donald Trump.
While Kinser, endorsed by Republicans, strongly favored school choice, Underly condemned it and said it siphons funding and drains resources from public schools.
“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,” WisDems said in a statement Tuesday night.
Audrey Lopez-Stane is the state news editor for The Daily Cardinal. She has written in-depth on free speech on campus, higher education and elections including the Wisconsin Supreme Court race and upcoming governor primary. Audrey is currently an intern with WisPolitics and will spend the summer working for Wisconsin Watch. Follow her on X @AudreyLopez2028.
