With Wisconsin’s spring election less than a month away, a new Marquette University Law School Poll reveals that large swaths of registered voters remain unfamiliar with the candidates vying for the state Supreme Court and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) superintendent role. The survey, released Wednesday, underscores a lack of voter recognition as the April 1 contests approach, offering insight into attitudes toward these pivotal races without providing head-to-head matchup results.
In the race for Wisconsin Supreme Court, former Attorney General Brad Schimel holds a 29% favorable rating among registered voters, with 32% viewing him unfavorably and 38% saying they don’t know enough to form an opinion. His opponent, Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford, trails in recognition, with 19% viewing her favorably, 23% unfavorably, and a striking 58% reporting insufficient knowledge to judge her. In an odd twist, poll director Charles Franklin noted that the survey, conducted Feb. 19-26, 2025, did not include head-to-head results for the Supreme Court contest, focusing instead on favorability metrics.
The DPI superintendent race shows a similar pattern of voter unfamiliarity. Incumbent Jill Underly garners a 23% favorable rating, with 25% unfavorable and 52% unsure, reflecting limited public awareness despite her tenure. Challenger Brittany Kinser fares worse, with just 12% viewing her favorably, 19% unfavorably, and a substantial 69% indicating they don’t know enough about her. As with the Supreme Court race, the pollster did not report head-to-head results for this contest, leaving the competitive landscape unclear.
Beyond candidate recognition, the survey touched on broader voter priorities. On the contentious issue of property taxes versus school funding, 58% favored controlling property taxes, while 41% prioritized increasing K-12 education funding—a split that could influence campaign messaging in both races. Voter ID policies also drew attention, with a majority supporting identification requirements at the polls, though exact figures were not detailed in the initial release.
The Supreme Court race, which pits Schimel’s conservative credentials against Crawford’s progressive backing, could shift the court’s ideological balance, currently at a 4-3 liberal edge. Meanwhile, the DPI contest pits Underly’s establishment record against Kinser’s outsider challenge, with education reform hanging in the balance. Yet, with such high “don’t know enough” numbers—38% to 69% across the candidates—these races may hinge on late-breaking voter education efforts.
The Schimel campaign was quick to react.
“Learning nothing from November, the Democrats’ handpicked a deeply flawed candidate, Susan Crawford, who spent her legal career fighting against Voter ID and Act 10, and her judicial career letting sexual predators and violent criminals back on our streets,” said campaign Communications Director, Jacob Fischer. “On April 1, Wisconsin has a clear choice between continuing an extreme ideologically driven agenda or taking back the Court to restore fairness to our justice system. The stakes couldn’t be higher, if Susan Crawford wins, Wisconsin will become unrecognizable.”
Franklin presented the findings at a public event Wednesday at Eckstein Hall, joined by Derek Mosley, director of the Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education.
On the issue of property taxes versus education funding, 58% of respondents said holding down property taxes is more important, while 41% favored increasing funding for K-12 schools. The finding marks a notable shift in voter priorities, reflecting growing concern over tax burdens in a state where property taxes have long been a political flashpoint. Analysts we spoke with off the record suggest this could pressure state legislators to prioritize tax relief in the upcoming budget cycle.
When it comes to voter attitudes toward the electoral process, the poll highlights a complex landscape. While specific candidate preferences for upcoming races were not detailed in the initial release, the survey underscores ongoing divisions over election integrity measures like voter ID laws.
Requiring a photo ID to vote is favored by 77% and opposed by 22%. In a dozen Marquette polls since 2012, the lowest support for the photo ID requirement was 58% in a poll conducted Oct. 9-12, 2014. When asked last in August 2021, 74% favored requiring a photo ID.
A proposed amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution on the April ballot would make the photo ID requirement a constitutional requirement. This is favored by 73% and opposed by 27%. Almost all Republicans, 97%, and 77% of independents favor adding this to the state constitution, while 55% of Democrats are opposed.
Looking ahead to the 2025 elections, which will include a high-stakes Wisconsin Supreme Court race and other key contests, voter enthusiasm appears tempered. The poll suggests a mix of engagement and uncertainty, with economic concerns like property taxes and education funding likely to dominate campaign discussions. Franklin noted that while the presidential election cycle has concluded, state-level issues are poised to drive turnout and shape voter preferences in the coming months.
The poll utilized a mixed sample, with 641 respondents drawn from Wisconsin’s voter registration list and 223 from the SSRS Opinion Panel, a group selected from postal addresses statewide and invited to participate in online surveys. Data collection included 740 respondents answering online and 124 interviewed by phone with a live interviewer. A comprehensive methodology statement, detailing the approach, is accessible via a link on the Marquette Law School Poll website.
The sample’s partisan composition was 36% Republican, 32% Democratic, and 32% independent. When independents leaning toward a party were classified as partisans, the figures adjusted to 46% Republican, 42% Democratic, and 13% independent. Across all 2024 polls, the average breakdown was 33% Republican, 31% Democratic, and 36% independent, shifting to 45% Republican, 42% Democratic, and 12% independent when leaners were counted as partisans.
As Wisconsin navigates its post-2024 election landscape, the poll’s findings on schools and property taxes could foreshadow tense debates in the state Capitol. Education establishment insiders argue that increased funding is critical to address teacher shortages and improve student outcomes, while reform advocates counter that taxpayers who need relief after years of rising costs deserve a better return on their current investment.
The Spring Election is April 1
