MADISON, Wis. (AP / TMJ4) – Jill Underly had the support of the state teachers union and an overwhelming financial advantage to win the Wisconsin superintendent of schools election, unofficial election results show.
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Underlying defeated Republican-backed Deb Kerr in Tuesday’s election.
Underly is superintendent of the Pecatonica Rural School District and previously worked for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, which he will now head.
Kerr is the former superintendent of the Brown Deer School District in suburban Milwaukee.
The race was officially nonpartisan, but the Democrats and their money lined up solidly behind Underly, while Kerr found support from the Republicans. Underly replaces Carolyn Stanford Taylor, who has held the position since 2019.
External spending on the superintendent career exceeds one million dollars
Outside spending on Wisconsin’s race for state superintendent has surpassed $ 1 million, the most ever spent by special interests trying to influence the officially nonpartisan race.
The Wisconsin Campaign for Democracy tracks spending on the race and said Monday that groups supporting Underly or opposing Kerr have spent $ 797,600.
One group has spent $ 209,000 to help Kerr.
Reaction to the election result
Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wikler issued the following statement:
“Students, teachers and families from all over Wisconsin are the real winners tonight. Dr. Underly has the deep experience, unwavering dedication to public schools, and a clear vision for a more equitable future that Wisconsin needs right now. “
Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale said in a statement:
“Today, Wisconsin voters continued the call for a better future for all by voting to elect union-backed candidate Dr. Jill Underly to lift our public schools out of the pandemic with a focus on equality and a strong, fully funded public education system that supports every child, every day. “
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