Dr. Eric Ostermeier

In 1909, Superintendent Charles Cary was elected to his third of five terms with a 35.6 percent plurality victory, defeating rural school inspector LaFrance Wood of Nielsville by 4.5 points in a four-candidate field.

The subsequent 28 elections for the office had been decided by an average of 31.2 points prior to Tuesday’s race.

The closest election for Superintendent of Public Instruction in Wisconsin history took place for an open seat in November 1857.

In that cycle, Democratic Wisconsin State Historical Society secretary Lyman Draper of Madison eked out a 0.4-point victory against 1853 (Whig) and 1855 (Republican) nominee John McMynn of Racine. Republicans and Democrats each won multiple statewide offices on the ballot that cycle in very close races.

All told, the 2025 election is the 11th most narrowly decided for Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction since statehood. Aside from the 1909 election mentioned above, all other races decided by less than six points took place between 1851 and 1892.

Only four of 39 incumbent Superintendents of Public Instruction were defeated in their quest for another term in Wisconsin:

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Did taxpayer funded Wisconsin DPI Superintendent Underly Juice Test Scores for Reelection?

notes and links on Incumbent DPI Superintendent Jill Underly.