MADISON, Wis. — Though barely a month has passed since the November election wrapped up, more contests are on the horizon in 2025. Chances are those races will likely bring record-breaking spending again.
The two biggest races that all Wisconsinites will weigh in on this upcoming spring are for state Supreme Court justice and state superintendent to lead the Department of Public Instruction (DPI).
“I never get involved in the primary,” Gov. Tony Evers told reporters when asked if he plans to endorse a candidate for state superintendent, a position he once held. “I understand that there [are] some concerns, but my focus is, right now, on getting our budget done.”
As of right now, current State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly is seeking reelection against Jeff Wright, the superintendent of the Sauk Prairie School District and “2024 Administrator of the Year," as named by the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance.
Evers, who spoke to reporters after Thursday’s holiday tree lighting ceremony at the Capitol, also weighed in on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race and said everybody makes assumptions about the political leanings of the state’s high court, but that is not always the case.
“We’re going to have at least two candidates that are somewhat in conflict with each other’s political views, but at the end of the day, they follow the law,” Evers added. “They don’t make the law and so it’s going to be a real important election.”
Former Attorney General Brad Schimel and Dane County Judge Susan Crawford are running to replace Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, who is not seeking reelection.
Though Supreme Court races are technically nonpartisan, the most recent between Janet Protasiewicz and Dan Kelly brought in record spending that topped $42 million which is almost triple the previous national record for a court race.
For experts, including Alan Ball, a professor at Marquette University who runs a blog about the Wisconsin Supreme Court, that sum could be shattered.
“One thing I am confident about for next April is that there is going to be even more money spent on that election than there was in the previous one with Janet Protasiewicz,” Ball explained.
Not all nonpartisan offices will be up for election in the new year. However, Wisconsinites will see other positions such as school board members, circuit court judges and county supervisors on the ballot depending on where they live.
Some of those races could require a primary and if that is the case those elections will be held on Feb. 18, with the spring election scheduled for April 1.