The record spending in Wisconsin’s state schools superintendent race between education consultant Brittany Kinser and incumbent Jill Underly has now hit $4.5 million.
Groups doing independent expenditures in the race have put $1.7 million into backing Underly’s reelection and opposing Kinser, according to independent expenditure reports filed with the state Ethics Commission.
Outside groups are spending nearly $116,000 supporting Kinser’s bid and opposing Underly.
According to AdImpact, Kinser has nearly $1.6 million in reservations for the full campaign. That includes $686,000 for the final week. Underly was at $910,000, including $364,500 over the final week. And Sauk Prairie Superintendent Jeff Wright, who finished third in the three-way primary, has reported spending $125,388 on his campaign.
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In all, that’s close to $4.5 million in spending. The previous record was the $3 million spent in the 2021 campaign.
The spending includes $2.7 million backing Underly and $1.7 million supporting Kinser.
Transfers from the state parties made up the majority of what Kinser and Underly raised during the pre-election period.
Kinser reported nearly $1.9 million raised, including $1.65 million from the state GOP.
Kinser has filed a late contribution report listing another $250,000 transfer from the state GOP. She’s reported $301,000 in donations since the close of the pre-election period overall.
Underly, meanwhile, reported nearly $1.1 million raised with $850,000 of that from the state Dem Party.
The state party previously gave her $56,118.
Underly hadn’t yet filed a late contribution report as of Thursday morning.
