Posted on 08/09/2011 8:19:35 PM PDT by Steelfish
Two GOP Senators Survive Wisconsin Recall Elections
Millions invested in elections for six GOP senators in what could be 2012 battleground state
By Tom Curry
At least two Republican state senators survived recall elections as votes were counted Tuesday night in Wisconsin in state Senate races which have gained national attention.
The two Republican winners were state Sen Robert Cowles and state Sen. Sheila Harsdorf.
Democrats, organized labor and progressive groups were using the recall effort to seek retribution against six GOP Senate allies of Gov. Scott Walker who enacted a labor law overhaul that ended collective bargaining rights for many public sector workers.
Walker and his allies also enacted a voter identification law and a redistricting plan, which is being challenged in court.
With the split in Wisconsin’s Senate at 19 Republicans and 14 Democrats, a net turnover of three would change party control.
In the 2010 elections, Walker won the governor’s office while the GOP gained four seats in the Senate, giving them the majority.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Well, I am happy to take back some of my pessimism (I’ll use it later...). Fifty of fifty-one Milwaukee precincts reporting: Darling wins 38%/Unions gets 62%. Totals: Darling: 38,358/Unions: 33,508.
Darling wins. Walker wins. America takes a baby-step back from the brink.
Time to go to bed...
I just remember watching Milwaukee Co bury Prosser right at the end, until Waukesha Co’s votes were discovered a few days later...
Now, if the two Dems would lose next week...
Wonder how many teachers are going to want to keep wasting their union dues on this sort of thing. Maybe just stop paying them, now that Walker’s bill has made that an option?
WOOOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
Now on to the election next week - anyone know if we will be able to unseat one or both of the recalled dems? I have not followed either race -
The final Ozaukee precinct just came in, adding a net 525 votes to Darling’s lead, which is now 5,375.
Darling 39,471, Pasch 34,096.
Union bosses would have to do some serious ballot stuffing in the last Milwaukee precinct.
We have a shot at Holperin in the 12th up north. His district went 53/46 for Bush, then reversed those numbers for Obama, pretty much the same as some of the other districts we won tonight. Plus, the Dems will probably ease up now that there’s no point to it.
That might even bother Wirch, who’s in a more Democrat district (51/48 for Kerry, 57/41 Obama).
>>Union bosses would have to do some serious ballot stuffing in the last Milwaukee precinct.<<
Just when I was starting to relax...
Not to worry. AP has called it for Darling:
State Senate - District 8 - General
County Precincts S. Pasch
(Dem)A. Darling (i)
(GOP)Total 81/82 34,096
46%39,471
54%Milwaukee 50/51 22,266
62%13,606
38%Ozaukee 11/11 4,176
33%8,461
67%Washington 9/9 2,887
27%7,955
73%Waukesha 11/11 4,767
34%9,449
66%
The districts are at the opposite ends of Wisconsin.
The GOP has its best shot in District 12, which is a group of northern Wisconsin counties, some of which border the upper peninsula of Michigan (the biggest towns in this district are Marinette and Rhinelander). The incumbent D is Jim Holperin, who snuck into office in 2008 with something around 51% of the vote. The challenger is Kim Simac, a businesswoman and Tea Party activist from Eagle River.
The other fleebagger is from District 22, which is essentially Kenosha County, the southeastermost in the state. His name is Robert Wirch. The GOP opponent is Jonathan Steitz, an attorney from Pleasant Prairie. Wirch is rated a solid favorite to hang on, but who knows.
HHHAAAAA - Love it!
Just think of all the wasted union $$$ spent on these two state senate seats that get them absolutely nothing! Another reason to celebrate!
Thank you both for the info - It would be nice to get one of our lost seats back!
Wirch is rated a solid favorite to hang on, but who knows.I suspect that the knowledge that they can't take control of the Senate will depress Dem turnout in next week's recall elections, so maybe the Republicans will win both races, giving the Dems a net change of ZERO.
At least we can hope! :-)
You called it! It happened exactly as you predicted.
LOL, we were when I joined FR - we have since moved back home!
Glad your group included the folks in Wisconsin - I went to sleep much happier than I had been earlier in the evening for sure!
I am so glad it did!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.