Underly, Kinser Win Primary, Vying To Head Department Of Public Instruction

Incumbent Jill Underly and challenger Brittany Kinser won Tuesday’s primary and will face off in the spring election to determine who will lead Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction.

Underly said she is committed to improving Wisconsin schools.

“I am deeply grateful to the voters of Wisconsin for their support in this primary election. We have a shared commitment to Wisconsin’s public schools, educators, and most importantly, our kids. Throughout my tenure as State Superintendent, I helped pass a new bipartisan literacy law, implemented higher standards for math and science, and expanded career and technical education,” she said in a statement released Tuesday night.

Kinser pledged she would continue to fight hard to win this race.

“I am inspired and humbled by the level of support my campaign has received in just a few short months. From now until April 1, I will continue to travel the state and share my plan to bring a clean slate, a fresh start, and a fundamentally new approach to DPI,” she said in a statement.

While the contest is officially nonpartisan, Democrats have been supporting Underly while Republicans have been backing Kinser. 

Jeff Wright, the superintendent for the Sauk Prairie School District, was challenging Underly on Tuesday’s ballot, but lost. The state Democratic Party was supporting Underly.

Underly and Kinser will face off in the April 1 general election. The winner will help set education policy throughout the state.

Underly was first elected in 2021.

Stay tuned to Civic Media for continuing coverage.

Thank you for joining my campaign to restore high standards and ensure every child has the opportunity to go to college, get a meaningful job, or master a trade. Our kids deserve SO MUCH BETTER! Onward to April 1st! pic.twitter.com/y9eAevexUB

— Brittany Kinser for DPI (@KinserforWI) February 19, 2025