Governor Tony Evers Withholds Endorsement in Wisconsin’s State Superintendent Primary Race

In a recent interview on WTMJ 620 AM, Governor Tony Evers of Wisconsin made headlines by firmly stating that he would not endorse incumbent Democrat Jill Underly in the upcoming primary race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction DPI.

This primary, set for February 18, is highly contested, with Underly facing challenges from two other Democratic candidates: leftist Jeff Wright, who has the endorsement of the WEAC PAC, and centrist Brittany Kinser, who advocates for education reform.

Evers explained that he would refrain from endorsing any candidate before the primary, citing the nature of the contest. However, he left the door open for post-primary support, saying he would make a decision after the primary results are in. This marked a significant departure from traditional party loyalty, especially given Underly’s role as an incumbent in Evers’ own party.

The governor also expressed disappointment with Underly’s controversial decision to water down school testing scores, a move that, according to Evers, surprised many in the educational community. He suggested that had Underly consulted more stakeholders, the outcome could have been more favorable.

In the same interview, Evers criticized Milwaukee Public Schools for failing to comply with a state law mandating the installation of school resource officers, calling it “ridiculous” that the law was not being followed and urging swift action to resolve the issue.

Finally, when asked about his potential re-election bid, Evers stated that he had not yet decided whether to run again. He plans to make a decision after the budget process concludes in early summer, expressing that he needed more time to think about his political future.

 

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