Wisc. GOP Retain Control of State Senate; Dems Take Two Seats
Democrats had sought to recall Republican legislators after budget battle.
Aug. 9, 2011 -- The GOP retained majority control of the Wisconsin Senate after four Republican state senators fended off recall votes and held on to their seats. Democrats picked up two seats in the elections fueled by widespread backlash against GOP support for Gov. Scott Walker's cutting of state employee bargaining rights.
The final seat race ended close to midnight when State Sen. Alberta Darling retained her seat, defeating Democratic challenger Sandy Pasch. Unofficial numbers have Darling with 54 percent of the vote compared with 46 percent going to Pasch.
Sen. Rob Cowles of Allouez and Sen. Sheila Harsdorf of River Falls, and Luther Olsen of Ripon defeated their Democratic challengers based on unofficial results on Tuesday, according to ABC affiliate WISN-TV in Milwaukee.
Cowles captured 58 percent of the vote compared with 42 percent for Democrat Nancy Nusbaum with 81 percent of precincts reporting, according to WISN-TV.
Harsdorf had 58 percent of the vote compared with 42 percent for Democrat Shelly Moore, WISN-TV reported.
Olsen has 53 percent of the vote compared to 47 percent of the vote for state Rep. Fred Clark with 98 percent of precincts reporting, according to the Associated Press.
Democrats were able to successfully recall Republican Sen. Dan Kapanke, with Democratic state Rep. Jennifer Shilling of La Crosse taking the seat. Early results have Shilling taking 55 percent of the vote compared with 45 percent for Kapanke.
Jessica King, 34, another Democrat, defeated Republican State Sen. Randy Hopper of Fond du Lac, according to WISN-TV. With all precincts reporting, King led Hopper 51 percent to 49 percent.
Control of the Senate now rests with a race targeting Sen. Alberta Darling of River Hills that is curerntly too close to call.
Outside groups poured millions of dollars into the state for television advertising and get-out-the-vote efforts. Democrats' goal was to take three of the seats to gain control of the state Senate from the Republicans, and also set the stage for similar collective bargaining and budget fights in other states.
The recall effort began in January when Republican Gov. Scott Walker took office and Republicans gained control of the state legislature, putting forward a budget aimed at austerity and limiting the rising costs of public employee benefits by ending collective bargaining for all public workers except police and firefighters.
Democrats in the state legislature left the state to avoid voting on the measure, while thousands of protesters on both sides of the issue flooded the state capital to protest or support Walker's move. After Walker signed the legislation, Democrats began gathering signatures on petitions to recall specific senators who were eligible.
Republicans responded in kind, saying Democrats abandoned their duty. Enough signatures were gathered to target six Republicans and two Democrats.
The level of campaign spending has been unprecedented, especially considering it is a recall effort. Spending was estimated at about $28 million from outside groups on both sides of the aisle and about $5 million spent by the candidates themselves, according to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign officials estimated the spending between the two sides was even, but the group will do a full accounting of spending after the election and will have a clearer picture of whether the totals were even.
Both sides were so invested financially and on the ground because of the national message a victory on either side will send.
The Tea Party Express went on a nine-city, get-out-the-vote tour in Wisconsin that ended with a rally Monday night in the Green Bay area.
Tea Party Express chairwoman Amy Kremer was clear about the national fallout if the Republicans were not successful at keeping the state legislature. The movement has generated "excited crowds," she said, but a loss today would give Democrats the "courage" to wage similar efforts in other states.
"If these conservatives don't have the support to do the right thing in Wisconsin, then this will happen in states around the country," Kremer said. "In Wisconsin, the Republicans and Gov. Walker were able to balance the budget in such a short time, stimulate job growth, and put people back to work."
Kelly Steele, a spokesman for We are Wisconsin, a political action committee made up of labor, progressive and other liberal groups that are working to win the recall elections, said "enthusiasm here is as high as it's been" on their side.
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