Tony Evers gives two thumbs up after being sworn in as Wisconsin’s 46th governor during a ceremony at the Wisconsin State Capitol on Jan 7, 2019. Also sworn in were Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, Attorney General Josh Kaul, State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski and Secretary of State Doug La Follette, all Democrats. Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Reading Time: 3 minutes

More photo essays from WisWatch

Our Top 10 photos of 2018

Wisconsin’s
frenetic lame duck session

Spending election night with Scott Walker supporters, as elation turns to dismay

On Jan. 7, 2019, Tony Evers, a Democrat, was sworn in as Wisconsin’s 46th governor at the Wisconsin State Capitol. The stately building, in recent years often the scene of chanting and protests, was filled with choirs, string ensembles and the bombastic music of the 132nd Army National Guard Band. Giant American flags adorned the rotunda, as dignitaries, legislators and members of the public filled the halls to celebrate the new governor, the former superintendent of public schools for Wisconsin. In attendance were members of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as well as five former governors. Evers defeated Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who was running for a third, four-year term.

Also sworn in by Chief Justice Patience Roggensack were Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, Attorney General Josh Kaul, State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski and Secretary of State Doug La Follette, all Democrats. The ceremony was emceed by Milwaukee architect and businessman Nick Robinson, and began with an invocation by the Rev. Willie Brisco.

“This is bigger than me; this is about the people of Wisconsin,” Evers said. “It’s about setting aside political interests and personal ambitions to work together on solving problems. It’s about putting people first.”

After receiving multiple standing ovations from the crowd, Evers ended his inaugural address with “Let’s polka tonight and get to work tomorrow.”

Tony Evers speaks during the inauguration ceremony after being sworn in as Wisconsin’s 46th governor at the Wisconsin State Capitol on Jan. 7, 2019. Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Five former governors attended the inaugural ceremony at the Wisconsin State Capitol. From left, they are Scott Walker, Jim Doyle, Scott McCallum, Tommy Thompson and Martin Schreiber. Emily Hamer / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Milwaukee architect and businessman Nick Robinson was the emcee for the inauguration ceremony. Emily Hamer / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Former Gov. Scott Walker gets a round of applause after being thanked for his years of service by emcee Nick Robinson. Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski is sworn in by Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Patience Roggensack. Emily Hamer / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Secretary of State Doug La Follette takes his oath of office during the ceremony. Emily Hamer / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Members of the Latino Arts Strings Program watch the inauguration ceremony from an upper level balcony. Earlier in the day they performed on the ground floor rotunda of the Capitol. Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Attorney General Josh Kaul helps his son Simon back to his seat after being sworn in. Emily Hamer / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Incoming Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes waves to the crowd prior to being sworn in by Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Patience Roggensack. Emily Hamer / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Tony Evers, a Democrat, is sworn in as Wisconsin’s 46th governor by Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Patience Roggensack. His wife Kathy Evers is at his side. Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Members of the Wisconsin Legislature and the public applaud during the inauguration ceremony. Emily Hamer / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Tony Evers speaks after being sworn in as Wisconsin’s 46th governor. “I have never been more hopeful about our state and our kids’ future as I stand here today. We must dare greatly to go forward in the face of adversity and uncertainty.” Emily Hamer / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Tony Evers shares a kiss with his wife Kathy after being sworn in as Wisconsin’s governor during the inauguration ceremony at the Wisconsin State Capitol on Jan. 7. The two met in kindergarten and went to their junior prom together. Emily Hamer / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

The nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, Wisconsin Public Television, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.

Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.

Popular stories from Wisconsin Watch

Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin WatchAssociate Director

cdukehart@wisconsinwatch.org

Coburn Dukehart is the Associate Director at Wisconsin Watch. She joined the organization in 2015 as the Digital and Multimedia Director. She is currently head of product and audience, directs visual and digital strategy; creates visual content; manages digital assets and trains student and professional journalists. Dukehart previously was a senior photo editor at National Geographic, picture and multimedia editor at NPR, and a photo editor at USATODAY.com and washingtonpost.com. She has received numerous awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, National Press Photographers Association, Pictures of the Year International and the White House News Photographers Association.

Emily Hamer is a recent graduate of UW–Madison with degrees in journalism and philosophy. She has formerly worked as an intern for University Communications and WisPolitics, and as an editor at The Badger Herald newspaper.