A priority for Evers upon taking office would be to seek an extension from the federal government to accept the federal Medicaid expansion, which Walker rejected, Evers said.

Before he was elected to head the state Department of Public Instruction, Evers served for eight years as deputy superintendent of schools. He grew up in Plymouth, and worked as a science teacher, high school principal and district superintendent in Baraboo, Tomah, Oakfield and Verona.

"If everything was great, I wouldn’t be running. Things are not great ... especially in the economic areas. Our state is not well economically," Evers said, adding that a sound economy comes from "investing in people."

He is critical of tax cuts enacted by the state's Republican lawmakers and governor, in particular the manufacturing and agriculture tax credit, and said problems that have emerged at Lincoln Hills, the state's juvenile corrections facility, represent a management failure on Walker's part.

"Lincoln Hills is a stain on this state that will not be removed for some time. Not only is it a stain but it’s a bunch of kids who had their lives screwed up as a result. He needs to own that," Evers said.