Incumbent state Superintendent Tony Evers has defeated challenger Lowell Holtz to win a third term as Wisconsin's top education official.

Evers easily beat Holtz on Tuesday in the only statewide race on the spring ballot. He will continue in his job running the Department of Public Instruction, which administers education policy to all 424 public schools in Wisconsin. Evers had nearly three-times as many votes as Holtz based on unofficial results.

Evers had support from teachers' unions and Democrats in the officially nonpartisan race. He supports Common Core academic standards, opposes private school vouchers and backs Gov. Scott Walker's budget proposal to increase K-12 funding by $650 million.

Evers also defended his record trying to close the achievement gap, which stood as the worst in the nation.

Complete statement from Tony Evers:

Lowell Holtz says he hopes his losing campaign for state superintendent raised serious issues about education in Wisconsin.

Holtz says that while the election did not go as he hoped, the race gave him a chance to engage in a dialogue about education and raise serious issues.

Holtz was outspoken against Common Core standards, for increasing safety in schools to close the achievement gap and for increasing opportunities for choice schools.

Holtz says he wishes Evers well in his third term.