Thank you to those who have reached out because of your sincere concern about the FALSE attack ad from Jill Underly’s campaign. It is playing on broadcast TV in all major media markets. I wanted you to see my response and the media release below.

Jill Underly's attack ads are false, and she knows it. It's very sad that she’s resorting to lying, instead of addressing her failures: lowering academic standards, hiding the MPS financial fiasco, and overseeing a reading crisis without a plan. I’ll keep focusing on what matters—our kids deserve better from their DPI Superintendent.

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I am calling on the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jill Underly, to immediately take down the false and vicious TV ad that she is now running against me. The events it references occurred after I had departed the organization, and I had no role in any of them. Period.

Running this ad is entirely beneath this office and her position as Wisconsin’s top educator. Underly claims to prioritize anti-bullying and mental health initiatives, but knowingly running a false and vicious attack ad contradicts everything she claims to be and is contrary to the fundamentals of what we are supposed to be as educators: honest, truthful, and acting with integrity.

From my very first day in this race, I am proud to have run an honest campaign that is focused on critical issues facing Wisconsin kids and their families: Restoring high standards, and making sure every Wisconsin student can read well enough to go to college, have a meaningful job, or master a trade. Our campaigns should be discussing those issues - not running false and dehumanizing ads.

Jill: Act with honesty and integrity. Take down the ad.