By Casey Nelson
Apr 6, 2021 9:40 PM
MADISON, WI (WTAQ) – Multiple sources called the race in favor of Pecatonica Superintendent Jill Underly around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night.
Underly defeated Brown Deer Superintendent Deb Kerr in the race to become Wisconsin’s next superintendent of schools, based on unofficial results. She led 57% to 43% with 97% of precincts reporting.
While the race is technically nonpartisan, Underly was mainly backed by Democrats and the state teachers’ union. Kerr saw support from Republicans, including former Gov. Scott Walker. Kerr ran as a strong supporter of the voucher program, a favorite of conservatives, while Underly is an opponent.
In the 89th Assembly District, which includes the city of Marinette, Republican Elijah Behnke defeated Democrat Karl Jaeger. That race was called with just 50% of precincts reporting. That seat was open after Republican John Nygren resigned from the Legislature.
More local races included the county executive contests in Winnebago and Fond du Lac counties, city council contests in Oshkosh and Fond du Lac, and school board races – including the contest in Green Bay.
One incumbent will stay, another will leave the Green Bay School Board. Incumbent Andrew Becker received the second most votes behind newcomer Nancy Welch. Incumbent Rhonda Sitnikau received the fewest votes of the four candidates on the ballot.
By SCOTT BAUER
Associated Press
MADISON, Wis. (AP) â Jill Underly rode support from the state teachersâ union and an overwhelming financial advantage, fueled by the Democratic Party, to win election Tuesday as Wisconsin superintendent of schools, defeating Republican-backed Deb Kerr.
Underly cruised to a double-digit win, based on unofficial results.
Underly, 43, is superintendent of the rural Pecatonica school district and formerly worked for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, which she will now lead. Kerr, 63, is the former superintendent of the Brown Deer school district in suburban Milwaukee.
The race was officially nonpartisan, but Democrats and their money lined up solidly behind Underly while Kerr found support from Republicans. Kerr ran as a strong supporter of the private school voucher program, a favorite of conservatives, while Underly is an opponent.
Turnout barely tops 20% for April general election
By AP author article
MADISON, Wis. - Turnout for Wisconsin s spring election, which had only one statewide race on the ballot with a handful of locally hot contests, barely topped 20%, based on unofficial results.
That s on par with other elections where the state superintendent of schools is on the ballot. In 2017, turnout was just under 16% and in 2013, when there was also a contested Supreme Court race, turnout was just over 20%.
In Tuesday s election, 921,073 people voted in the race for superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction. That is 20.1% of the voting age population of 4,536,417.
Turnout barely tops 20% for Wisconsin spring election
April 7, 2021
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MADISON, Wis. (AP) Turnout for Wisconsin s spring election, which had only one statewide race on the ballot with a handful of locally hot contests, barely topped 20%, based on unofficial results.
That s on par with other elections where the state superintendent of schools is on the ballot. In 2017, turnout was just under 16% and in 2013, when there was also a contested Supreme Court race, turnout was just over 20%.
In Tuesday s election, 921,073 people voted in the race for superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction. That is 20.1% of the voting age population of 4,536,417.
Pecatonica Superintendent Jill Underly, who was backed by Democrats and the state teachers union, easily defeated former Brown Deer Superintendent Deb Kerr, who was the favorite of Republicans. Underly got nearly 58% of the vote compared with about 42% for Kerr, based on unofficial tallies.