Incumbent state schools Superintendent Tony Evers brushed back a challenge by Lowell Holtz to win a third term, by a 70%-30% margin. Evers campaigned as a strong proponent of public schools, of substantially boosting funding for them and addressing their teacher shortage and of providing mental health services for students.
While state leaders have charged the Dept. of Public Instruction with accommodating the private school choice program, Evers has remained opposed to expanding vouchers at the expense of public school funding. He also supports the Common Core academic standards.
In an election night statement, Evers said, in part, "I believe in public education and I am proud of where we are today. We have high graduation rates, suspensions are down, attendance is up, and the number of kids earning college credit in high school is at an all-time high.
"Despite these successes, we have serious challenges facing our schools. A larger share of our kids live in poverty, one in five students has a mental health need, the achievement gap between black and white students is too high and we have a growing teacher shortage that is furthered by divisive rhetoric.
"Funding public schools is not a Republican or a Democratic issue, it is our obligation to care for our children, and our obligation to Wisconsin’s future prosperity."
Evers' opponent in the April 4 Spring Election, Lowell Holtz, criticized the incumbent for failing to close Wisconsin's wide achievement gap between white students and students of color. Holtz previously served as superintendent of the Whitnall and Beloit school districts. He trailed Evers in fundraising and unlike Evers, did not air TV ads.
The contest for superintendent was officially non-partisan, but Evers had wide support among Democrats and teachers unions, while Holtz had the backing of conservative groups.
It was the only statewide race on Tuesday's ballot.
