Over 60% of Independents Want to See the Governor Opt-In
Madison, WI — Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) today released findings from a new poll of Wisconsin voters showing broad public support for the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC), the first-of-its-kind program set to take effect in 2027. The findings mirror national trends showing bipartisan approval and highlight a major opportunity for Governor Evers to bring new federal resources directly to families — at no cost to the state budget.
According to the survey, a strong majority of Wisconsin voters — 55% — favor Governor Evers opting into FSTC, while 29% are opposed and 15% were unsure. After hearing a short description of the program, Democrats back participation at higher rates than Republicans — 60% to 47% — with 26% of Democrats and 34% of Republicans opposed. Support is especially strong in Madison (CD 2, 68%) and Milwaukee (CD 4, 72%).
“These findings make clear what we’ve been telling governors across the country, that opting into the federal tax scholarship program isn’t just good policy, it’s smart politics,” said Jorge Elorza, CEO of Democrats for Education Reform. “As he closes out his tenure, Governor Evers has a rare opportunity to deliver tangible relief to working families, strengthen Wisconsin’s education options, and ensure that federal dollars meant for Badger State kids don’t flow to other states. By opting in, Governor Evers can deliver all three while cementing his record of practical, equity-minded leadership.”
Also notable for the gubernatorial race, the poll tested candidate messaging. When framed as expanding access to tutoring, test prep, special-needs services, and quality school options for working and middle-income families, 61% of likely general election voters sided with that position — favoring opt-in over opt-out by a 22-point margin. The candidate who frames opting in as a working-class issue is favored by voters 65+ (70%), nonpartisan voters (74%), and those without a four-year degree (70%).
In a second poll of Democratic primary voters, the picture is equally clear: 58% sided with the candidate who would opt in to FSTC. K-12 education ranked third among Democratic primary voter priorities at 16%, signaling that education is a live issue inside the primary that will impact which candidate advances to the general.
If Wisconsin does not opt in, Wisconsin families will lose access to more than $1.5 billion in federal tax credits that will instead flow to the U.S. Treasury — or fund scholarships in states that do opt in. FSTC is already law; opting in requires no legislative action and costs the state nothing.
Elorza added: “This is a moment for political courage and bold vision. Governor Evers has already demonstrated that he will do what it takes to deliver for Wisconsin families. FSTC is already law, so he doesn’t have to wait for the legislature. Opting in is the pragmatic thing to do, and it will show students and families across the state that access to a high-quality education shouldn’t be determined by ZIP code or income — it should be prioritized for those who need it most.”
Both the General Election & Democratic primary survey research was conducted by Concord Public Opinion Partners. The general election was conducted between 01/7-9 with a sample size of 605 respondents. Data was collected by contacting likely 2026 General Election voters va live calls to cell phones and landlines and Text-to-Web surveys. The margin of error is +/- 3.9%. %. Data was weighted by: Race, Age, Gender, College Attainment, Congressional District and Partisanship. The Democratic primary survey was conducted between 01/07-09 with a sample size of 604 respondents. Data was collected by contacting likely voters for the 2026 Democratic Primary election via live calls to cell phones and landlines and Text-to-Web surveys. The margin of error for this survey is +/- 3.93%. Data was weighted by: Race, Age, Gender, and Congressional District.
