Recall Election Results and Beyond

6/7/2012

Contributed by WAPA Lobbyist Eric Jensen, Jensen Government Relations, LLC

As you have seen by now, Governor Walker won the recall election last night by a margin larger than his win over Mayor Barrett in 2010.

You have also likely seen that Democrats did knock off one of the four incumbent Republican State Senators -- John Lehman defeating Sen. Van Wanggaard by about 700 votes in Racine. Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau), Sen Terry Moulton (R-Chippewa Falls) and Rep. (now Sen-Elect) Jerry Petrowski (R-Marathon) all won with about 60% of the vote.

So, majority control of the State Senate now flips to the Democrats with a 17-16 majority. However, there is no session scheduled for legislative action between now and next January, and given the Democrats' win it is extremely unlikely the Governor will call a Special Session or that the Assembly and Senate will agree to call an Extraordinary Session.

Focus in Wisconsin's perpetual election season will now turn to the August primaries and November general elections.

The Presidential, US Senate, Congressional races in northern and northeast Wisconsin, and the battle for control of the State Senate will now take center stage.

For November, the new electoral maps will take effect - a fact that many believe favors Republican candidates in several key areas. With Sen. Jim Holperin (D-Conover) retiring, the Democratic Senate majority earned last night will face an immediate and difficult challenge. The district voted strongly in support of Walker last night, in favor of Walker in 2010, in favor of Justice Prosser in 2011, and its three Assembly Districts are all held by Republicans. Current GOP State Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst) who lost a close election to Senator Holperin in 2008 is already running. If nothing else changes but GOPs win this election in November, control of the Senate will flip back to Republicans before the Legislature re-convenes.

Stay tuned...

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