Democrats fall short in heated Wisconsin recall elections

Republicans in Wisconsin clung on to control of the state senate after a hotly-contested series of recall elections Republicans snatched a narrow victory in the battleground of Wisconsin politics on Tuesday night, hanging onto four out of six recall elections held as Democrats fought to overturn their majority in the state senate. Six seats were up for re-election after Democrats had successfully organised recall ballots against the group of incumbent Republican state senators, in the wake of the controversial anti-union measures supported by Republican governor Scott Walker. Democrats needed to win at least three of the six seats held by Republicans to take control of the state senate. But after a campaign that saw an estimated $35m spent by both sides – many times above the sums usually spent on local elections – the Democrats could only take two of the seats on offer. The campaign had energised Democrats, who went to great lengths with get-out-the-vote efforts, but the final result came down to a tight race between Republican Alberta Darling of River Hills, who held off Democratic state representative Sandy Pasch of Whitefish Bay by a 5,000 vote margin. Republican senators Sheila Harsdorf of River Falls, Rob Cowles of Allouez and Luther Olsen of Ripon also held on to their seats. Democrats vowed to continue their efforts next year, and launch recall efforts against Walker himself, as well other Republican state senators who may be vulnerable after Tuesday night’s results. For Walker – talked of as a possible Republican presidential candidate in 2016 – the result means he can continue unimpeded, with both houses of Wisconsin’s legislature controlled by Republicans. Wisconsin’s bitter political battle caught international attention earlier this year after Democratic senators fled the state for three weeks in an attempt to stop Walker from passing a bill to strip 175,000 government workers of almost all collective bargaining rights. Both Democrats and Republicans regard Wisconsin as a swing state in the 2012 presidential election. Although Obama carried the state easily in 2008, the 2010 midterm elections swept the Republicans back into power and unseated Democratic US senator Russ Feingold. Wisconsin US politics Republicans Democrats United States Richard Adams guardian.co.uk

Posted by on August 10, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.