Recounts loom in handful of Wis. legislative races
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republicans couldn’t deliver Wisconsin for Mitt Romney or put former GOP Gov. Tommy Thompson in the U.S. Senate in Tuesday’s elections, but they still had a huge night by seizing the majority in the state Senate and retaking control of state government.
The GOP erased the narrow majority Democrats established in the Senate during the June recalls and easily held on to their advantage in the Assembly. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker in office for at least another two years, the GOP has carte blanche control of state government again.
The only question now is just how powerful the Republicans will be.
Unofficial election results showed the GOP with a 57-39 majority in the Assembly and three races too close to call. The party gained a 17-16 majority in the Senate with one race too close to call. None of the four trailing candidates have conceded, setting the stage for potential recounts.
The Assembly races’ final outcomes won’t change the big picture there. Republicans will still enjoy a huge advantage in the chamber.
The final math in the Senate, though, could make a difference in whether the GOP can advance more contentious proposals.
A two-person advantage would allow GOP leaders to bypass moderate Republican Dale Schultz of Richland Center. GOP leaders have been upset with Schultz since sided with Democrats last year against Walker’s signature plan to strip most public workers of their collective bargaining rights.
Nov 8, 2012 at 6:10 p.m.
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You voted, didn't you?
;-)
Nov 8, 2012 at 3:15 p.m.
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Maynard illustrates a good point if someone wasn't smart enough to go vote on their own, getting a free ride and being influenced to vote a certain probably explains a lot about the dumbing down of the electorate. Check out the exit polls, there is no doubt that brains are not a requirement in voting.
Nov 8, 2012 at 10:25 a.m.
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Anyone know the results yet of the one senate race that was too close to call? If it ends up going Republican, will there be another set of attempted recalls to try to change the balance of power? Hope not. Also hope the Republicans have learned not to cram their agenda, well intentioned or not, through with this majority without at least bipartisan talks. If they have not learned, they will pay dearly in 2014. imo
Nov 8, 2012 at 10:21 a.m.
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GoodAmerican: These were not people being given rides from their homes or nursing homes to the poll. This was cruising the streets and picking up people off the streets. As I said, actually very clever. As long as they did not try to heavily pressure them to vote one way or the other during the ride or give them something in return ... I am mostly okay with it. However, I feel if a person is out able to be walking, they should be able to get themselves to the poll and make an informed vote. The irony I saw was that this was not aired until after the election when one of the speakers for the party was bragging about how well and how they got the extra votes in Ohio. Smacks of good old fashioned Chicago back door politics. And people wonder why I do not trust either side of government. Also the tone of this election ended up very negative and it worked. So expect that to continue. Never side really offered any concrete solutions. So we will have to see how the next years play out. Will businesses start spending some of their money now that the election has been decided? Or will they wait until Congress addresses the so-called fiscal cliff or kick it down the road? Will be interesting to see what happens in December. Personally think both parties should elect new leadership and not from the far left and far right but think it will be ssdd(same stuff, different day).
Nov 7, 2012 at 9 p.m.
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this from the party that regular national news tonight (not FOX) showed driving around Ohio, asking people if they had voted, and then taking them to the polls, getting them registered, and having them vote during the early elections. Of course they could have voted for either party. So they are pretty good at shenanigans also ... Not real ethical in my mind but actually pretty clever and legal as long as all they gave them was a free ride.
Nov 7, 2012 at 8:04 p.m.
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dtd: give it a rest!
Nov 7, 2012 at 7:41 p.m.
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Recounts will be useless. Repubs are too good at shenanigans when it comes to elections.
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