GOP loses two senate seats in WI, but results are much better than expected
Gov Scott Walker's (R) tactics on dealing with WI state budget challenges caused WI senators (D) to flee to Chicago in an attempt to prevent union-focused legislation from becoming law. Other states, including IL, are facing serious budget challenges and looking for ways to better manage costs. After the (very) noisy Madison protests, all eyes were on the WI recall elections wanting to know who the people of Wisconsin supported. Governor Walker? Or the public sector unions?
The answer to that question is very important to states like IL. If voters rallied around the protesters, it would send a warning signal to lawmakers in other states, letting them know there would be political consequences if they considered a similar approach to Governor Walker. On the other hand, the recall election could send a much different signal to lawmakers in surrounding states if voters did not rally around the public sector union workers.
There is no doubt this recall election was a big deal. Just ask Rev. Al Sharpton:
This election was "
ground zero" for the battle over unions and "unprecedented" was heard consistently in the weeks leading up the recall election.
(After)Election Results from: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/article_0eab6966-c2a9-11e0-a206-001cc4c03286.html
(Before)Obama vs. McCain numbers from: http://richardcharnin.com/WIRecallFraud.htm
6 GOP State Senators and 2 Dem senators faced or are facing recall. The results of the 6 GOP recall elections are so favorable for conservatives that some dems are claiming voting fraud. (see the before link above). Other dems are claiming that winning back 2 senate seats is a victory for the dems. The 2 recall elections for dem State Senators will be held this week.
Here is closer look at the before/after and you can determine the winners and losers.
RECALL ELECTION RESULTS
- State Senate District 2
- All wards reporting
- x-Robert Cowles, GOP (i) 27,543 (60%)
- Nancy Nusbaum, Dem 18,039 (40%)
- After: GOP +20%
- 2008: Obama Votes 46,760 (53%)*
- 2008: McCain Votes 41,223 (47%)*
- Before: Dem +6%
- State Senate District 8
- All wards reporting
- x-Alberta Darling, GOP (i) 39,471 (54%)
- Sandra Pasch, Dem 34,096 (46%)
- After: GOP +8%
- 2008: Obama Votes 52,372 (52%)*
- 2008: McCain Votes 48,315 (48%)*
- Before: Dem +4%
- State Senate District 10
- All wards reporting
- x-Sheila Harsdorf, GOP (i) 37,099 (58%)
- Shelly Moore, Dem 27,250 (42%)
- After: GOP +16%
- 2008: Obama Votes 50,996 (51%)*
- 2008: McCain Votes 48,702* (49%)*
- Before: Dem+2
- State Senate District 14
- All wards reporting
- x-Luther Olsen, GOP (i) 26,554 (52%)
- Fred Clark, Dem 24,365 (48%)
- After: GOP +4%
- 2008: Obama Votes 42,806 (53%)*
- 2008: McCain Votes 38,557 (47%)*
- Before: Dem +6%
- State Senate District 18
- All wards reporting
- x-Jessica King, Dem 28,188 (51%)
- Randy Hopper, GOP (i) 26,937 (49%)
- After: Dem +2%
- 2008: Obama Votes 44,306 (52%)*
- 2008: McCain Votes 40,854 (48%)*
- Before: Dem +4
- State Senate District 32
- All wards reporting
- x-Jennifer Shilling, Dem 33,192 (55%)
- Dan Kapanke, GOP (i) 26,724 (45%)
- After: Dem +10%
- 2008: Obama Votes 54,645 (62%)*
- 2008: McCain Votes 33,829 (38%)*
- Before: Dem +24%
* - % calculates only Obama and McCain vote totals and does not include votes for other candidates or undervotes.