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.