Tony Evers

Tony Evers

Democratic Party

Governor of Wisconsin

Tenure

2019 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

5

Predecessor

Scott Walker

Prior offices

Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction

---

Compensation

Base salary

$152,756

Elections and appointments

Last elected

November 8, 2022

Education

High school

Plymouth High School

Bachelor's

University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1973

Graduate

University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1976

Ph.D

University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1986

Personal

Professional

Educator, Administrator

Contact

Official website

Official Facebook

Official Twitter

Official Instagram

Official YouTube

Official TikTok

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Campaign YouTube

Personal LinkedIn

Tony Evers (Democratic Party) is the Governor of Wisconsin. He assumed office on January 7, 2019. His current term ends on January 4, 2027.

Evers (Democratic Party) ran for re-election for Governor of Wisconsin. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Evers was born in 1951 in Plymouth, Wisconsin. He received a bachelor's, a master's, and a doctorate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He worked in education as a teacher, principal, superintendent, and regional administrator.

Evers served as Wisconsin's Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction from 2001 to 2009. He was elected in a nonpartisan election to serve as Wisconsin's Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2008. As superintendent, Evers was responsible for providing leadership for Wisconsin's public school districts. Additionally, he was responsible for providing the public with information about school management, attendance, and performance.

In 2018, Evers was elected Governor of Wisconsin when he defeated incumbent Gov. Scott Walker (R) 49.5% to 48.4%. Evers said his experience as superintendent inspired him to run for governor: "I realized that if I really wanted to make a difference for these kids in the state, I couldn't rely on this position to do it. The governor is the one who sets the tone."

During his 2018 campaign, Evers said his priorities as governor would include bolstering the state public school system, ensuring access to affordable health care, and fixing the state's roads and bridges. Evers was also responsible for the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Evers won re-election in 2022 when he defeated Tim Michels (R) 51.1% to 47.8%. In his 2022 gubernatorial victory speech, Evers reflected on his first term in office: "I've worked hard to keep [my] promises and do the right thing. That's who I am, and that's who I've always been. Some people call it boring, but you know what, Wisconsin, as it turns out — boring wins."

After Evers' 2018 election, the Wisconsin State Legislature passed legislation restricting the governor's authority over economic development issues, requiring his administration to rewrite thousands of government documents, and requiring the attorney general to seek approval from the Legislature to settle lawsuits. Walker signed the legislation before Evers assumed office. In 2024, the Legislature referred two amendments to the August 23 ballot that would limit the governor's control over state spending.

Biography

Born in Plymouth, Wisconsin, Evers graduated from Plymouth High School and went on to attend the University of Wisconsin in Madison for each of his three degrees. He received a bachelor's, master's, and doctorate in educational administration.

Before entering elected office, Evers was a classroom teacher, principal, school district administrator, Cooperative Educational Service Agency administrator, and deputy state superintendent.

Political career

Governor of Wisconsin (2019-present)

Evers was elected as the 46th governor of Wisconsin in 2018. He assumed office in January 2019.

Superintendent of Public Instruction (2009-2019)

Evers took office as state education superintendent in April of 2009. He resigned his post on January 7, 2019, when he took office as governor.

Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction (2001-2009)

Evers served as Wisconsin's deputy superintendent of public instruction from 2001 to 2009.

Elections

2022

See also: Wisconsin gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022

General election

General election for Governor of Wisconsin

Incumbent Tony Evers defeated Tim Michels, Joan Ellis Beglinger (Unofficially withdrew), and Seth Haskin in the general election for Governor of Wisconsin on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tony Evers (D)	51.1	1,358,774
		Tim Michels (R)	47.8	1,268,535
		Joan Ellis Beglinger (Independent) (Unofficially withdrew)	1.0	27,198
		Seth Haskin (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	104
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	1,879

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,656,490
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jess Hisel (Free Party)
• Chris Donahue (Independent / L)
• Levi Borntreger (Independent)
• Ryan Patrick Sweeney (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Wisconsin

Incumbent Tony Evers advanced from the Democratic primary for Governor of Wisconsin on August 9, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tony Evers	99.8	491,656
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	975

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 492,631
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Yousef Sameer Zahran (D)
• Job Edmond Hou-Seye (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Wisconsin

Tim Michels defeated Rebecca Kleefisch, Timothy Ramthun, Kevin Nicholson (Unofficially withdrew), and Adam Fischer in the Republican primary for Governor of Wisconsin on August 9, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tim Michels	47.1	326,969
		Rebecca Kleefisch	42.0	291,384
		Timothy Ramthun	6.0	41,639
		Kevin Nicholson (Unofficially withdrew)	3.6	24,884
		Adam Fischer	1.2	8,139
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	504

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 693,519
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Leonard Larson Jr. (R)
• John Macco (R)
• Robert Meyer (R)
• Jonathan Wichmann (R)
• James Kellen (R)

2018

See also: Wisconsin gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018

See also: Wisconsin gubernatorial election, 2018 (August 14 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for Governor of Wisconsin

The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Wisconsin on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tony Evers (D)	49.5	1,324,307
		Scott Walker (R)	48.4	1,295,080
		Phillip Anderson (L)	0.8	20,225
		Maggie Turnbull (Independent)	0.7	18,884
		Michael White (G)	0.4	11,087
		Arnie Enz (The Wisconsin Party)	0.1	2,745
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	980

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,673,308
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Wisconsin

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of Wisconsin on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tony Evers	41.8	225,082
		Mahlon Mitchell	16.3	87,926
		Kelda Roys	12.8	69,086
		Kathleen Vinehout	8.2	44,168
		Michael McCabe	7.4	39,885
		Matthew Flynn	5.9	31,580
		Paul Soglin	5.2	28,158
		Andy Gronik	1.2	6,627
		Dana Wachs	0.8	4,216
		Josh Pade	0.4	1,908

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 538,636
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Bob Harlow (D)
• Michele Doolan (D)
• Andrew Lust (D)
• Jeff Rumbaugh (D)
• Ramona Whiteaker (D)
• Mike Crute (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Wisconsin

Incumbent Scott Walker defeated Robert Meyer in the Republican primary for Governor of Wisconsin on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Scott Walker	91.6	417,276
		Robert Meyer	8.4	38,269

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 455,545
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Ryan Cason (R)

Green primary election

Green primary for Governor of Wisconsin

Michael White advanced from the Green primary for Governor of Wisconsin on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michael White	100.0	817

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 817
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for Governor of Wisconsin

Phillip Anderson advanced from the Libertarian primary for Governor of Wisconsin on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Phillip Anderson	100.0	1,673

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,673
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2017

See also: Wisconsin superintendent of public instruction election, 2017

Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction, General Election, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Tony Evers Incumbent	70%	494,846
Lowell Holtz	30%	212,536
Total Votes		707,382
Source: WisconsinVote.org, "Current election results," accessed April 4, 2017

Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction, Primary Election, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Tony Evers Incumbent	69.7%	251,477
Lowell Holtz	22.9%	82,519
John Humphries	7.4%	26,563
Rick Melcher	0%	0
Total Votes		360,559
Source: WisconsinVote.org, "Current election results," accessed February 22, 2017

2013

See also: Wisconsin state executive official elections, 2013

Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction General Election, 2013
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	Tony Evers Incumbent	61.1%	487,030
	Nonpartisan	Don Pridemore	38.7%	308,050
	Scattering	Various	0.2%	1,431
Total Votes				796,511
Election Results via Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (dead link).

2009

Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction, 2009
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	Tony Evers	57.1%	439,248
	Nonpartisan	Rose Fernandez	42.7%	328,511
	Nonpartisan	Scattering	0.1%	905
Total Votes				768,664

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Tony Evers did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2018

Campaign website

Evers' campaign website stated the following:

“	Public Education in Wisconsin As a former educator, principal, district administrator and now as Wisconsin’s State Superintendent of Schools, Tony has dedicated his life to helping our kids. Our public schools are the heart and soul of so many Wisconsin communities but they also are essential to sustainable, innovative and long-term economic growth and workforce development. From “Divide and Conquer” with our educators to cutting over $800 million from our schools, Scott Walker has not been a friend of public education. Since 2011, over 1 million Wisconsinites have voted to raise their own property taxes because Scott Walker and the Republican legislature have not adequately funded our public schools. Tony believes what’s best for our kids is what’s best for our future. As Governor, Tony will: Increase investments in early childhood education and quality childcare, which also includes helping Wisconsin families with skyrocketing childcare costs Increase funding for our public schools and restore respect and professionalism towards all our hardworking educators Increase investments in both our technical schools and UW System Support and reward research and innovation from student and faculty alike, and after graduation we must do everything we can to keep these young people in Wisconsin Allow Wisconsinites to refinance their student loans at a lower interest rate, just like a home mortgage As a member of the Board of Regents, Tony has seen firsthand the damage Scott Walker has inflicted on higher education in Wisconsin, cutting hundreds of millions from our UW System. When other states began reinvesting in higher education, Wisconsin chose not to and it’s resulted in fewer classes and quality educators for our kids. Our possibilities are only limited by our own willingness to take no for an answer – it’s time we look to the future. Infrastructure and Transportation As Governor, Tony will focus on solving problems, not picking fights. One of Tony’s first priorities will be to solve Wisconsin’s transportation crisis. Our road quality ranks 44th in the country; towns and villages are returning to gravel and we’re borrowing so much money that Tony’s three-year-old grandson will be paying for our roads when he’s grown-up. Our local roads have been so inadequately funded, five counties and 18 cities have passed vehicle fees and taxes since 2011 to help cover road maintenance costs because the state has fallen down on the job. There are bipartisan long-term solutions for Wisconsin’s transportation system, however Scott Walker hasn’t shown the political will to get it done. Drawing a line in the sand is not leadership. Not only do we need to improve Wisconsin’s roads, but we need to make strong investments in Wisconsin’s ports, airports and railways. A strong infrastructure is more than just patching potholes. This is key for successful economic development – both in terms of drawing new businesses to Wisconsin, expanding existing businesses in Wisconsin and creating good-paying Wisconsin jobs. As Governor, Tony will: Work with both Democrats and Republicans alike to implement a sustainable, long-term fix for how we fund our roads Invest more in local road maintenance Increase funding for public transit Ensure our highways and bridges are no longer a liability, but an asset for bringing new industries and businesses to Wisconsin Repeal changes made to Wisconsin’s prevailing wage laws that simply take money out of Wisconsin’s workers pockets Healthcare Too few people have access to affordable health insurance and the cost of healthcare in Wisconsin continues to be too high. Period. One reason that folks in Wisconsin pay nearly 50 percent more than Minnesotans do when purchasing individual health insurance is because Minnesota accepted the Medicaid expansion dollars and Wisconsin did not. Minnesota also made important changes to stabilize the market and control costs. Under Governor Scott Walker, premiums in Wisconsin have spiked, while DC Republicans peddle Walker-endorsed plans that would repeal critical protections for Wisconsin families and drive up costs. As Governor, Tony will: Take immediate action to accept the federal Medicaid expansion dollars which would insure thousands more Wisconsinites who are struggling to find affordable health insurance Do everything in his power to stabilize health insurance markets and bring down costs – including prescription drug prices Invest in preventive health programs, especially for Wisconsin women, that have been defunded over the last seven years. Having to drive four hours round-trip for a mammogram, simply isn’t acceptable. Extend protections for Wisconsinites with pre-existing health conditions. It is estimated that half of Wisconsinites have some kind of pre-existing health condition like cancer, diabetes, a heart condition, obesity or depression. We cannot afford to return to the days where health insurance companies held all the power and could cut off patients who simply cost them too much money. Protecting Our Natural Resources Wisconsin is at a dangerous crossroads. Our lands and natural resources are being auctioned off to the highest bidder, our lakes and streams are disappearing and our wetlands are being destroyed. Too often, our drinking water is unsafe making our kids sick. We must restore balance and commonsense to our natural resources management. From our state parks to the Great Lakes to the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program – Scott Walker has stopped investing in the very things that make Wisconsin great. Enough is enough. It’s time we reinvest in our future. We can grow our economy and increase our national security by producing renewable energy here at home rather than buying our energy from foreign countries and hostile nations. We can create new jobs and boost existing industries in Wisconsin, like logging and small-scale agriculture, by increasing the innovation, sustainability and value of their products. As Governor, Tony will: Make sure Wisconsin families have clean water to drink and clean air to breathe Ensure our kids learn the critical thinking skills to help them make informed, science-based decisions for our future Return Wisconsin’s rich legacy of conservation by restoring independence to the DNR, so decisions are based on facts and public input – not on catering to campaign donors, politicians and special interests Invest in our natural resources to create new outdoor recreation opportunities for hunters, snowmobilers and silent sports enthusiasts alike, while also protecting these resources for our future generations to use and enjoy Pledge Wisconsin’s support of the Paris Climate Change Accords Economic Development For eight years, Walker has focused on corporate subsidies to international companies and tax breaks for his political donors. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) has been a constant source of controversy, inefficiency and ineffectiveness. Moreover, Walker’s $4.5+ billion Foxconn giveaway costs taxpayers $200+ million annually, pulling resources from the rest of the state to subsidize a broken political deal. Meanwhile, more than 800,000 Wisconsin families cannot afford basic necessities, western Wisconsin led the nation in farm bankruptcies in 2017, and Wisconsin ranks dead last for new business startups, which are crucial for job creation and innovation. As a career politician, Walker failed to meet his 2010 promise of growing 250,000 private sector jobs, instead using taxpayer funds to pick winners and losers among mega-corporations. Throughout his time in office, Walker has turned down billions in federal money for Medicaid, broadband, and rail expansion, hamstringing the economy and giving funds away to other states. Tony will fight for working families and invest in an economy that creates higher wages and better jobs. As Governor, Tony will: Disband WEDC, replace it, and return the majority of economic development dollars to local communities and regional organizations. We shouldn’t make businesses come to Madison to beg for help – we should work within our communities and local chambers of commerce to rebuild our main streets and grow our existing businesses. Ensure access to high speed broadband in every Wisconsin home and business Invest in our roads, bridges, ports and airports, which not only brings new businesses and industries to Wisconsin, but leads to more good paying Wisconsin jobs Increase our investment in education, includes starting kids off right with strong early childhood programs, fully funding well-rounded k-12 public schools and returning to the Wisconsin Idea that values higher education, research and a commitment to making our community a better place. Racial Equity Advancing racial equity and increasing opportunities for children, families and communities of color across the state is imperative to Wisconsin’s healthy and sustainable future. Tony believes that building upon the strengths of these communities and the shared values of all Wisconsinites we can collectively address the existing disparities in poverty, unemployment, incarceration rates, graduation rates and infant mortality that have disproportionately impacted communities of color and in particular the African American community. Facing the challenge of being the state with the worst ranking for black child well-being in the nation is one Tony is willing to take head on, unlike Gov. Walker who continues to ignore these realities while pushing punitive policies that hurt not help Wisconsin families rebuild and grow. We have to invest in people, not prisons, to meet these challenges. As State Superintendent, Tony has worked to make every child a graduate and address the racial disparities and inequities in our schools, but Wisconsin needs all its leaders committed to this work. We need to make investments in local neighborhoods and ensure government decision-makers, corporate leaders, and educators reflect the growing diversity of our state. We must address the grievous problems in corrections system, expand alternatives to incarceration and reform the criminal justice system – especially for juveniles. We should empower local communities and ensure our workforce – from classroom educators to local law enforcement to health care providers – is more diverse and reflects our changing communities. Finally, we must reject the hateful rhetoric and division that’s consuming our country. Tony will use all resources at his disposal to ensure equality, opportunity, justice and fairness to all Wisconsinites. As Governor, Tony will: Treat all Wisconsinites with respect and dignity, giving a seat at the table to voices that too often are unheard Reform the criminal justice system (see more below), including specialty courts, diversion programs and restorative justice strategies as alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders Make diverse appointments drawn from strong community leaders across Wisconsin to lead state agencies, fill judicial vacancies, and serve on boards and commissions Prioritize equity and local communities in state budget decisions Repeal controversial drug testing requirements and adopt health and welfare policies that improve quality of care and strengthen families, rather than punish them Criminal Justice Reform According to The Sentencing Project, African Americans are more than five times more likely than whites to be in imprisoned. However, here in Wisconsin, that ratio is doubled (10:1). From education to health care to criminal justice – bold reforms must be made. The fact Wisconsin spends more on Corrections, than the entire UW System speaks volumes about our priorities as a state. There are a number of policies that we as a state must change. As Governor, Tony will support: Ending crimeless revocations Banning the box Eliminating mandatory minimums Ending the use of solitary confinement (especially with juveniles) Investing in drug courts, Treatment and Diversion (TAD) programs and restorative justice strategies Increased transparency, accountability and communication within policing Fixing our broken parole and supervision system which only contributes to our high incarceration levels while also keeping families apart Increasing access to affordable housing, employment with good wages, and other needed support for a successful re-entry for those who have completed their sentence Voting Rights Over the last seven years, Scott Walker and the Republican legislature have chipped away at Wisconsin’s fair elections laws. They’ve changed our voting dates, kicked hundreds of thousands off our voting rolls, implemented Voter ID with no evidence of credible voter fraud, made intimidation at the polls easier and gerrymandered our legislative maps to secure their power. We shouldn’t be making it harder for Wisconsinites to vote, we should be making it easier! Wisconsin should be following the lead of states like Oregon that have automatic voter registration for their residents. As Governor, Tony will work to make sure every single vote counts and increase opportunities for all Wisconsinites to participate in our democracy. Women's Health The health decisions that a woman makes should reside with her, her family and her physician – not the politicians who represent her. These are individual choices that we should trust women to make. While Wisconsin’s politicians think they know what’s best, there’s no question that Wisconsin women really know what’s best for themselves. As Governor, Tony will: Trust women, not politicians, to make their own health care decisions Invest in life-saving preventive health programs that keep Wisconsin women healthy Reverse Governor Walker’s decision to defund Planned Parenthood and thus ensure that thousands of Wisconsin residents are still able to access important health services like breast and cervical cancer screenings, physical exams, birth control and STI testing LGBTQ Rights Tony believes that all Wisconsinites should be able to marry who they love – plain and simple. Even with our recent victories on this front, there are still important LGBTQ protections we need on the books here in Wisconsin to ensure fairness and equality for all. Our work is not done. Tony is a strong ally who will continue to fight back against clandestine legislation that discriminates against LGBTQ people. He opposes attempts by the Legislature to outlaw local non-discrimination ordinances that protect people’s basic rights. He also has been a vocal opponent of the so-called “bathroom bills” and other attacks on LGBTQ youth. Worker's Rights It’s no secret Scott Walker has made his career by attacking Wisconsin’s workers time and time again. This ends in an Evers Administration. It’s time we started treating all Wisconsin workers – including our public employees – with respect and compassion. Tony is committed to filling his appointments with people who actually have expertise and knowledge in their respective fields, not simply filling government with more political hacks who will rubberstamp his policies. We must give our workers a seat at the table – listening to their concerns and hearing their ideas. We can do this on day one and don’t need to pass a bill to treat Wisconsinites with the dignity they deserve. Tony opposes Act 10, Right-to-Work and changes made by the GOP to Wisconsin’s prevailing wage laws. He also would support repealing legislation that eliminates the opportunity for local communities to pass living wages and other pro-worker protection policies. Minimum Wage In 2014, voters in 13 Wisconsin counties and cities had the opportunity to vote on a referendum asking lawmakers to raise the minimum wage. Every one of the referendums passed including places like Wood County, where Scott Walker won with 57% of the vote and the minimum wage referendum passing with 56% of the vote. Tony supports raising the minimum wage to $15/hour and indexing to inflation. However, like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) Tony also believes that this should be phased in over multiple years. Marijuana Legalization Tony believes it’s time for Wisconsin to join nearly 30 other states and the District of Columbia in legalizing medical marijuana. As a cancer survivor himself, Tony is all too familiar with the side effects of a major illness that can make everyday tasks, like making your bed or even showering, a challenge. This is an evolving issue. For many Wisconsinites, medical marijuana will alleviate chronic pain, which is why organizations like the American Legion support legalization because of the documented health benefits for our veterans. It’s no secret that Wisconsin, like red and blue states across the country, is battling an opioid and painkiller crisis that is killing thousands of Americans every year. The fact remains that states that have legalized medical marijuana have observed double digit decreases in both opioid abuse and overdose related hospitalizations. Tony would support and sign medical marijuana legalization legislation. In regard to full legalization – Tony believes this is a decision that should reside with Wisconsin residents and would support a statewide referendum on the issue. Non-Partisan Redistricting Tony is strongly in-favor of non-partisan redistricting reform. Politicians should not be picking their constituents, the people should be picking their politicians. Campaign Finance Reform From Waukesha to Osceola to Reedsburg, more than 130 communities across Wisconsin have expressed their support for overturning the 2010 Citizen’s United court decision. Our elections should not be awarded to the highest bidder. In 2015, Scott Walker and legislative Republicans overhauled Wisconsin’s campaign finance laws that resulted in them banning political corruption investigations, allowing for more cooperation between candidates and special interest groups, and doubling the amount of money candidates can accept. It’s time we returned power to the people of Wisconsin. As Governor, Tony would support legislation overturning Citizens United and other commonsense campaign finance reform that would clean up Wisconsin’s elections. Revitalizing Rural Wisconsin The farms and forests of rural Wisconsin are a core part of our identity. The prosperity of rural Wisconsin is directly tied to the health of agriculture and working forests and the dollars they circulate in local economies. When farm families suffer, our rural communities also suffer. Under Scott Walker’s eight years in office prospects for rural Wisconsin have gone down by every measure. From 2009 to 2014 more than thirty of our rural counties lost population – the highest trend of population loss in decades. Wisconsin is now losing more than one dairy farm every day. In parts of Wisconsin the rate of farm bankruptcies is the highest in the nation. Rural schools are on the brink of closing and suffering from woefully inadequate funding. While we’re on a spending spree to build more highways for Foxconn, our rural roads are falling apart. And far too many communities still lack broadband internet, which limits economic development and education opportunities just as much as the lack of electricity did in rural areas one hundred years ago. Tony Evers has seen first-hand the impacts of failure to invest in rural communities in every part of Wisconsin. And he knows how important is to restore healthy, vibrant rural communities, not just in our cities but in every part of Wisconsin. Diversified Agriculture Wisconsin’s farms are a tremendous asset with more than 68,000 farms occupying 14.3 million acres of farmland. To keep our farm economy strong Wisconsin needs to re-invest in diversified agriculture, value added farm products and food processing, and farm product marketing. As Governor Tony will: Convene a blue ribbon commission to advance agriculture and economic opportunities in rural Wisconsin Re-orient our economic development agencies to increase incentives to support agriculture and rural businesses through training, labor attraction, market development and business support Provide additional support for business investment in value added processing for farm products Ensure that our farm marketing labels support Wisconsin-grown farm products (Ex: Something Special from Wisconsin) Strengthen our support for forest owners and protecting jobs in our $26 billion forest products sector Work across the globe to increase international export development initiatives Renewable Energy Our farms and working lands should be producing the energy to power our state. We need to restore incentives and policies to produce more solar, wind, biomass, and other renewable energies here in rural Wisconsin. Wisconsin citizens pay some of the highest rates in the nation for electricity. We can become more energy independent, and keep more of our energy dollars here at home by producing our own renewable energy – generating year-round income to help diversify operations for farms of all sizes. As Governor Tony will: Support policies to encourage farm operators and third-party system operators to invest in small and mid-scale producer-owned solar and wind Strengthen state incentives for renewable energy and adopt consistent rules on utility rates for customer-produced power Increase our investment in research, development and installation of renewable energy power sources through our UW System and UW-Extension Supporting Agriculture Wisconsin farmers are in a crisis as prices within the farm economy have been below production costs for more than three years. Farm families are enduring bankruptcy, health issues, and even suicides as rural Wisconsin loses more than one dairy farm every day. Farm policies have encouraged over production which has resulted in financial stress to dairy farm families, causing many of them to have to exit the industry. As Governor Tony will: Convene a blue-ribbon commission to advance economic opportunities in rural Wisconsin Strengthen our State University Extension system to offer support and market assistance to help farmers navigate brutal commodity markets. Extension was key to building up agriculture in Wisconsin – they need to again be a part of finding solutions. Work with Governors and farm leaders in neighboring states to find regional solutions, led by farmers, to maintain a strong dairy economy Rural Broadband Internet Broadband internet is an essential resource for schools, businesses, and homes. Without fast internet rural communities, farms, businesses, and students will always be at a disadvantage. Barely a month into his governorship, Scott Walker’s administration returned $23 million in federal stimulus money that would have built broadband connections for 380 Wisconsin communities — including 385 libraries and 82 schools. Tony Evers knows how important broadband internet is for everyone in rural Wisconsin and he’ll make it a priority to re-invest in internet access for everyone. Every home, school and business in Wisconsin should have access to 100 MB of high speed internet. Internet is the interstate of the 21st Century, we must begin treating it like a utility that all Wisconsinites deserve access to. As Governor Tony will: Call for a complete analysis of broadband needs in rural communities. Internet should be treated like a utility and through robust investments and partnerships we can dramatically improve broadband internet access in underserved areas. Advance policy to allow Wisconsin’s successful and efficient BadgerNet internet system to become a hub for internet access in underserved rural communities.	”
—Tony for Wisconsin

2013

On his campaign website, Evers outlined the following three issues:

• Ensuring Every Child is a Graduate: "Tony adopted higher standards, better assessments and new student supports to ensure all kids are college and career ready. He will continue to work with parents, educators and legislators to set high standards and adopt innovative educational practices."

• Standing up for Kids and Educators: "Tony fought back against historic budget cuts, opposing a back room deals that expanded school vouchers while cutting $1.6 billion from public schools. He will continue to push for adequate resources to ensure school reform does become a code work for funding cuts."

• Championing School Finance Reform: "Tony’s popular Fair Funding for Our Future plan would protect kids, invest in our classroooms, account for poverty, and lower the tax levy. Tony will re-introduce the plan as part of his 2013-15 Budget proposal."

Notable endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.

Notable candidate endorsements by Tony Evers

Endorsee	Election	Stage	Outcome
Kamala D. Harris  source  (D, Working Families Party)	President of the United States (2024)	Primary	Advanced in Convention
Mandela Barnes  source  (D)	U.S. Senate Wisconsin (2022)	General	Lost General

Notable ballot measure endorsements by Tony Evers

Measure	Position	Outcome
Wisconsin Question 1, Prohibit Legislature from Delegating Appropriations Power Amendment (August 2024)  source	Oppose	Defeated
Wisconsin Question 2, Require Legislative Approval for State Expenditure of Federal Funds Amendment (August 2024)  source	Oppose	Defeated

Campaign finance summary

---

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

---

Tony Evers campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2022	Governor of Wisconsin	Won general	$44,930,035	$46,118,819
2009	Wisconsin Superintendent of Public instruction	Won	$236,126	N/A**
2001	Wisconsin Superintendent of Public instruction	Lost	$12,619	N/A**
Grand total			$45,178,780	$46,118,819
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only availabale data.

Noteworthy events

Koschkee v. Evers (2017-2019)

On June 25, 2019, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in a lawsuit originally filed against Evers that the Department of Public Instruction and its superintendent must have written approval from the governor before drafting or implementing new administrative rules.

In November of 2017, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) filed a lawsuit alleging that Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) were in violation of the state's REINS Act (Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act). WILL’s lawsuit asked the court to issue a declaratory judgment ordering Superintendent Evers to comply with the state REINS Act. WILL's suit was filed on behalf of two school board members and two public school teachers from Wisconsin school districts.

Click below for a timeline of events related to the lawsuit

June 25, 2019: Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that DPI must have new rules approved by the governor In a 4-2 decision, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in favor of Kristi Koschkee and held that the Department of Instruction (DPI) and Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) must receive written approval from the governor before drafting or implementing new administrative rules. The court held that the Wisconsin Constitution allows the state REINS Act to apply to the DPI because the power to make rules is legislative and controlled by the legislature. July 20, 2018: Wisconsin Supreme Court rules on REINS Act case The Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a ruling on the requirement that Evers make use of legal defense provided by the Department of Justice on July 20, 2018. It ruled that Evers and the Department of Public Instruction were to be allowed to select the counsel of their choice on the grounds that Attorney General Bill Schuette's (R) position on the REINS Act and desired outcome for the case was contradictory to Evers'. The court also ruled that Gov. Scott Walker (R) was not a necessary party to the case. April 13, 2018: Wisconsin Supreme Court agrees to hear REINS Act case against Evers and DPI The Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a decision on April 13, 2018, agreeing to consider WILL's lawsuit against Superintendent Evers and DPI as an original action. In the decision, the court did not give its reasons for taking the case. The court also did not respond to Evers' request for independent representation. The decision to take the case was supported by a majority of the court, while Justices Ann Walsh Bradley and Shirley Abrahamson dissented, arguing that the issue presented was already addressed in Coyne v. Walker. Oral arguments in Koschkee v. Evers were held on May 15, 2018. February 6, 2018: Dane County judge denies motion seeking a declaration that the Wisconsin REINS Act does not apply to the state superintendent On February 6, 2018, Dane County Circuit Judge Richard Niess denied a motion filed in December 2017 in a dormant lawsuit between Governor Walker and Superintendent Evers. At the conclusion of that now-dormant suit, the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld an injunction from a Dane County judge preventing the governor from applying to the state superintendent a 2011 law requiring state agencies to obtain gubernatorial permission when issuing regulations. The motion, filed by a group of teachers in support of Evers’ position, asked Judge Niess to rule that the Wisconsin REINS Act is similar enough to the 2011 regulatory permission law and therefore cannot be applied to Evers. Judge Niess denied the motion, holding that interpreting the REINS Act is a matter for the state supreme court and that there is no reason to believe that the Walker administration plans to violate the original injunction against applying the 2011 law to DPI. November 22, 2017: Governor Walker orders Wisconsin Department of Justice to represent Evers and DPI; Evers requests independent counsel On November 22, 2017, Governor Scott Walker (R) ordered the Wisconsin Department of Justice to represent Superintendent Evers in the case. An email statement from the governor's office to Wisconsin Public Radio read in part: "Superintendent Evers is being sued in his official capacity as a state official, therefore, the attorney general has the authority to represent him and determine the arguments that are in the best interest of the state." DPI spokesman Tom McCarthy said the same day that his department plans to file a motion seeking independent representation on the grounds that the Walker administration and state Attorney General Brad Schimel (R) do not have the same interests or desired outcome in the case as the department. Evers, who ran for Wisconsin governor as a Democrat in 2018, issued a separate statement on November 22 through his campaign spokeswoman, saying, "They will stop at nothing. They are so scared that I will beat Scott Walker, they are willing to waste thousands of taxpayer dollars re-filing a frivolous lawsuit they've already lost." Johnny Koremenos, director of communications and public affairs for the state justice department, also released a statement that day, which read in part: "It is not unusual for a client agency to disagree with the position of DOJ and this case is no different, but that is not a conflict of interest. Wisconsin law unequivocally gives the Attorney General the power to represent any state official or department upon the request of the Governor." November 20, 2017: Law firm sues the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and state superintendent, alleging REINS Act violations On November 20, 2017, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) filed a lawsuit against Tony Evers, the Wisconsin superintendent of public instruction, alleging that Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) were in violation of the state's REINS Act. WILL’s lawsuit was filed as an original action with the Supreme Court of Wisconsin and asked the court to issue a declaratory judgment ordering Superintendent Evers to comply with the state REINS Act. WILL's suit was filed on behalf of two school board members and two public school teachers from Wisconsin school districts. A press release from WILL, a nonprofit law firm and legal research organization, described the reasoning behind the lawsuit as follows: “ Among other things, the REINS Act requires statements of scope for proposed rules to be submitted to the State Department of Administration for an analysis of whether the agency has authority to promulgate the proposed rule. ... But records obtained by WILL indicate that Evers and the DPI are violating this provision of the law by refusing to send scope statements to the Department of Administration. DPI is also not sending scope statements to the Governor for approval. ” —Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, November 20, 2017 Tom McCarthy, a spokesman for DPI, said in a statement issued the same day as the lawsuit filing that the legal issues raised by WILL were already decided by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in the 2016 case Coyne v. Walker. McCarthy argued that the state REINS Act does not apply to DPI, writing, "Justice Gableman's decision in Coyne is clear and the Legislature understood the case’s impact on the REINS Act after discussions with our department. The case has no merit, period." According to Wisconsin Public Radio, "the state Supreme Court ruled 4-3 in Coyne v. Walker that the state schools superintendent has the authority to write rules independently." The four-justice majority in Coyne delivered four separate opinions, and the case was decided the year before the state REINS Act was passed.

Ballot measure activity

Ballotpedia is not aware of any personal political advocacy by this officeholder related to ballot measures we track. If you are aware of any, please email us.

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.

Evers and his wife, Kathy, have three children.

See also

2022 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. Congress U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

Newsletters

The Heart of the Primaries The Daily Brew The Weekly Brew The Ballot Bulletin Checks and Balances Economy and Society Hall Pass Number of the Day Robe & Gavel Union Station

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Candidate

Governor of Wisconsin

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

Officeholder

Governor of Wisconsin

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

TikTok

Personal

LinkedIn

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Scott Walker (R)	Governor of Wisconsin 2019-Present	Succeeded by -
Preceded by -	Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction 2009-2019	Succeeded by -