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Turnout 7.2% for spring primary in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Turnout in Wisconsin’s spring primary election barely topped 7%, one-tenth of what turnout was just three months ago in the November presidential election.

The only statewide race on Tuesday’s ballot was the nonpartisan contest for state superintendent of schools. The race drew little attention in the days leading up to the vote and the low turnout was not a surprise. Election officials had said they expected few voters to cast ballots.

Just shy of 325,000 people voted in the superintendent’s race, based on unofficial numbers. That is nearly 7.2% of the voting-age population. Turnout in the presidential election was 72%.

In 2017, the last time there was a state superintendent race, turnout was just 8.3% of the voting-age population in the primary, about 374,000 people. In 2018, when there was a primary for a state Supreme Court seat, turnout hit 12%, or nearly 542,000 people.

Jill Underly, superintendent at Pecatonica Area School District, and Deb Kerr, the former Brown Deer superintendent, advanced from the field of seven candidates in the state superintendent race. They will face each other in the April 6 general election.

Wisconsin primary election results Tuesday in the region:

MARINETTE COUNTY

State superintendent of schools

Deborah Kerr 928

Jill Underly 494

Troy Gunderson 295

Steve Krull 293

Sheila Briggs 278

Joe Fenrick 243

Shandowlyon Hendricks-Williams 180

Note: Underly, the Pecatonica Area School District superintendent who won the teachers’ endorsement, and Deborah Kerr, the former superintendent in Brown Deer who was the only candidate with widespread conservative support, advanced as the top two-vote getters statewide.

State Assembly, District 89

Mike Kunesh (R) 523

Elijah Behnke (R) 518

Debbie Jacques (R) 268

David Kamps (R) 83

Michael Schneider (R) 56

Note: Behnke advanced to face Democrat Karl Jaeger to replace John Nygren of Marinette, who resigned in December.

FLORENCE COUNTY

State superintendent of schools

Deborah Kerr 71

Jill Underly 60

Steve Krull 40

Sheila Briggs 31

Troy Gunderson 19

Joe Fenrick 17

Shandowlyon Hendricks-Williams 13

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