Tony Evers claims victory early Wednesday (copy)

Tony Evers became Wisconsin’s 46th governor Monday with a call to bridge the state’s gaping partisan divide, urging leaders to stop “governing by retribution” and to “dare to transcend divisiveness.”

Evers, a Democrat, took the oath of office at the state Capitol Monday, with outgoing Republican Gov. Scott Walker and four other former governors looking on.

 

Others sworn in were Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, the first African-American to hold the state’s No. 2 post, Attorney General Josh Kaul, State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski and Secretary of State Doug La Follette, all Democrats.

 

In his inaugural remarks, Evers, who had been state superintendent, called on the state to fully fund schools at every level, including all-day pre-kindergarten. Evers also said the state must do more to ensure health care is affordable and accessible and that Wisconsin “cannot wait any longer for a sustainable solution” to funding its transportation network.

 

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