State superintendent
Green County votes
Tony Evers: 3,868
Lowell Holtz: 1,225
Write-ins: 3
Lafayette County votes
Tony Evers: 1,944
Lowell Holtz: 603
Write-ins: 3
MADISON (AP) - Incumbent state Superintendent Tony Evers cruised to re-election Tuesday, easily ousting challenger Lowell Holtz on his way to a third term as Wisconsin's top education official.
The win keeps Evers in place as the only Democratic-backed statewide official in a meaningful office. Even though the race is officially nonpartisan, Evers had strong support from Democrats along with state and national teachers' unions who favored his positions in support of increased funding for public schools and opposition to private school vouchers.
Evers won by a roughly 3-to-1 margin based on unofficial results.
"A lot of people decided to be pro-public schools," Evers said, saying the big win was not a mandate. "I think people want to stand up for their public schools and this is one way to do it."
While Evers pledged to stand up for what he called progressive issues, like keeping guns out of classrooms and supporting transgender rights, he said his wide election win showed that Republicans also supported him.
"I've been somebody that has reached out to Republicans and had some success with this governor," Evers said. "I think there are Republicans who are supporting me out there. They may not want to say it out loud."
Holtz's candidacy never got off the ground as he struggled with low fundraising, accusations that he tried to bribe another candidate, questions about his work history and whether he broke state law by sending campaign-related emails from his Whitnall schools account where he worked as superintendent before retiring last year.
Holtz said in a statement that he was grateful the campaign gave him a chance to "raise serious issues regarding the condition of education in Wisconsin" and he hoped his candidacy "broadened the way people view education reform."
Evers, 65, will continue running the state Department of Public Instruction, which administers K-12 education policy, curriculum and programs, as well as state and federal aid for all of Wisconsin's 424 public school districts.
Evers and Holtz disagreed on almost every major issue that's come up in the campaign. Evers opposes expanding the private school choice program and supports Common Core academic standards, increasing funding for public schools and addressing teacher shortages across the state.
The win keeps Evers in place as the only Democratic-backed statewide official in a meaningful office. Even though the race is officially nonpartisan, Evers had strong support from Democrats along with state and national teachers' unions who favored his positions in support of increased funding for public schools and opposition to private school vouchers.
Evers won by a roughly 3-to-1 margin based on unofficial results.
"A lot of people decided to be pro-public schools," Evers said, saying the big win was not a mandate. "I think people want to stand up for their public schools and this is one way to do it."
While Evers pledged to stand up for what he called progressive issues, like keeping guns out of classrooms and supporting transgender rights, he said his wide election win showed that Republicans also supported him.
"I've been somebody that has reached out to Republicans and had some success with this governor," Evers said. "I think there are Republicans who are supporting me out there. They may not want to say it out loud."
Holtz's candidacy never got off the ground as he struggled with low fundraising, accusations that he tried to bribe another candidate, questions about his work history and whether he broke state law by sending campaign-related emails from his Whitnall schools account where he worked as superintendent before retiring last year.
Holtz said in a statement that he was grateful the campaign gave him a chance to "raise serious issues regarding the condition of education in Wisconsin" and he hoped his candidacy "broadened the way people view education reform."
Evers, 65, will continue running the state Department of Public Instruction, which administers K-12 education policy, curriculum and programs, as well as state and federal aid for all of Wisconsin's 424 public school districts.
Evers and Holtz disagreed on almost every major issue that's come up in the campaign. Evers opposes expanding the private school choice program and supports Common Core academic standards, increasing funding for public schools and addressing teacher shortages across the state.