Kloppenburg Narrowly Ahead Of Republican Incumbent In Wisconsin Election
Comments (13)
A recount is almost certain after Democratic candidate JoAnne Kloppenburg narrowly pulls ahead Wednesday of Republican incumbent David Prosser in Wisconsin's race for the state Supreme Court.
With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Kloppenburg moves in front of Prosser by 204 votes or so out of nearly 1.5 million cast.
In what many are considering a "test election" in Wisconsin after weeks of turmoil between unions and Democrats on the one side and GOP Governor Scott Walker on the other, Democrats won an overwhelming victory Tuesday night in the race to win Walker's old seat as Milwaukee County executive.
Either way, the election results have enormous importance as they are considered a test of the electorate's mood after Walker used controversial measures last month to ramrod through a measure that strips public employeees of collective bargaining rights.
Passage came after weeks of turbulent demonstrations that brought as many as 100,000 protesters to the state Capitol in Madison.
The passage of the measure set off a frenzied war of electioneering with Democrats pushing now to recall several of the GOP state legislators and, ultmately, Governor Walker himself.
The recall drive is reportedly picking up steam and this contributed to the attention given to Tuesday's otherwise mundane elections. Walker and the GOP have seen their popularity plummet during the union battle and Democrats sense blood in the water.
Prior to the union conflct, Justice Prosser was considered an easy favorite so even if he squeaks by in the final count, Democrats might still claim a moral victory,
The race for Milwaukee County executive is officially non-partisan but party lines shined through. As 90 percent of the ballots were counted, Democrat-backed Chris Abele was leading GOP state Rep. Jeff Stone by a crushing 61-39 percent margin.
The office has usually been Democratic dominated, but Scott Walker won with 55 percent in a 2002 special election.
Voter turnout was unusually high for such low profile elections and outside funding from labor on the left and the Tea Party on the right flowed into the state.
The AP has more details.
Comments
Its sad that middle class people don't understand unions or what they do.Unions fight for all working Americans not just union members, Without union pay and benefit packages setting a high standard for middle class workers what kind of pay do you think corporate America would be giving to us?? We tried this country without unions once check a history book. It wasn't very good for the working class in this country.
glad to see the tea partiers motivating the normal people to get out and vote.
A little criticism. Follow the lede until finished. You start talking about the election in Milwaukee Co. then move to Prosser, Walker, and virtually any other subject, before getting back to Milwaukee. Stay on one subject, finish it, then move on to your secon point, then third, etc. btw, you might want to avoid linking a story from an opinion site, like TPM in a news story, regardless of your perspective.
Details incorrect. Scott Walker was Milwaukee Cty Exec, not Dane County. Madison is in Dane County
Ken Smith quit typing that nonsense. This is a secular democracy you dumb sky daddy fearing douchebag. Grow up and open a science book you moronic fool.
WHAT A JERK!!!!
It would appear that the American Public in general believes money growson trees and that it always will. I believe that the general morality of the public goes hand in hand with not being able to see truth. They are blindly spending themselves into hell for their children. There is not much hope left and there is no other place to move too.Our Stupid President continues to be the policeman in the middle East, spending money we do not have to protect our source of oil while keeping us from developing our resources here all the while letting more spanish people accross our borders to the South. WE are the blind leading the blind without Jesus Christ in our lives. Only He can help our country see the woods for all the trees.
So, you don't have any debt, right? Or, if you do, I hope your debt is less than your income? And, presumably, global situations have no impact on the future of your children? Jesus Christ would most likely say, "cut social programs so the upper 1% don't have to pay more income taxes and can bolster their savings accounts and set up trust funds for their children." He would most likely say something like, "no, don't spend your money for social programs, and to help out people who don't have, cut taxes to help those that DO have.", am I right? I don't usually respond to drivel online because you already believe what you are going to believe, and so why would I waste my time trying to make you 'see the light', as it were. But I'm a bit sick and tired of people making generalized opinionated comments and then justifying their xenophobia and frugality by insertng some floaty JESUS CHRIST comment at the end of their statement. And the top 1% richest households in our country have seen their wealth grow by 256% since 1979. The bottom 20% have seen 11% growth. That doesn't factor in an increase in women working, and hours worked. Our president, who is WAYYYYYYY smarter than you, and doesn't say things that make him sound insane like "Only He can help our country see the woods for all the trees" has to help others in the world, otherwise we would be even more hated than we were when BUSH was in office. your comments here reitirate the sad state of our country, and illuminate some very backwards thinking.
33% turnout for an election, at anytime of the year, is absolutely pathetic. A lot of people in the world don't get an honest chance to make their voices count at all, and are completely beholden to dictators and tyrants, and yet here we are. 33% turnout. Absolutely depressing and pathetic. kudos to the 33%, but 67% gets a big FU.
Another bible thumper that enjoys a tax free religious subsidy with my tax dollars spouts off. You should be taxed to Hell and back for your idea of the God’s word. I went to church as a young man and left because religion was hijacked by greed. There is nothing about the way Jesus told us to live and behave that is being reflected in today’s religion. Your kind cares less about serving your communities than anyone. If money doesn’t grow on trees, why are we giving it to the wealthy? You spout off your opinion about what you don’t want your tax dollars spent on but care little that someone else does not want their taxes spent on a HOAX like religion!!!
Scott Walker was Milwaukee County executive, not Dane County executive.