While I did write an entry yesterday scolding the movement to recall Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, my tendencies as a political junkie have taken over and I’m very eagerly awaiting tonight’s results. I’m sure you all might be in the same boat as well, so I just wanted to give you the rundown of what’s at stake as well as some facts from previous elections to keep in mind.
Not only is the office of governor up for a recall today, but the office of lieutenant governor is as well. Three state senators also face recall and a vacated GOP Senate seat will be filled tonight as well in a district that used to be represented by a Democrat. The state senate is important because with the vacant seat, the Senate is evenly split with both parties sharing controlling responsibilities. If Democrats successfully recall any of the senators or win the special election, they will take control of the state senate.
GOVERNOR
Scott Walker (R-inc) vs.
Tom Barrett (D)
2010 RESULT
Walker – 1,128,941 votes (52.25%)
Barrett – 1,004,303 (46.48%)
VICTORY MARGIN: 124,638 votes
TOTAL VOTES CAST IN RACE: 2,160,832
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Rebecca Kleefisch (R-inc) vs
Mahlon Mitchell (D)
Kleefisch was elected with Walker since they ran as a ticket in 2010.
STATE SENATE – DISTRICT 13
Scott Fitzgerald (R-inc) vs
Lori Compas (D)
Fitzgerald is the co-majority leader of the state senate. His brother, Jeff Fitzgerald, is speaker of the State Assembly.
2010 RESULT
Fitzgerald (incumbent) – 44,529 (67.61%)
Dwayne Block (D) – 19,232 (29.20%)
VICTORY MARGIN: 25,297 votes
TOTAL VOTES CAST: 65,860
STATE SENATE – DISTRICT 21
Van H. Wanggaard (R-inc) vs
John Lehman (D)
Rematch from 2010 election.
2010 RESULT
Wanggaard – 32,036 (52.52%)
Lehman (incumbent) – 28,930 (47.43%)
VICTORY MARGIN: 3,106 votes
TOTAL VOTES CAST: 60,995
STATE SENATE – DISTRICT 23
Terry Moulton (R-inc) vs
Kristen Dexter (D)
2010 RESULT
Moulton – 32,448 (54.20%)
Pat Kreitlow (D-inc) – 27,375 (45.73%)
VICTORY MARGIN: 5,073 votes
TOTAL VOTES CAST: 59,866
STATE SENATE – DISTRICT 29
Jerry Petrowski (R) vs
Donna Seidel (D)
This seat was already targeted for recall when incumbent Sen. Pam Galloway (R) resigned citing family related issues. The seat is currently vacant and the election is now a special one rather than a recall.
2010 RESULT
Galloway – 32,640 (52.26%)
Russ Decker (D-inc) – 29,742 (47.62%)
VICTORY MARGIN: 2,898 votes
TOTAL VOTES CAST: 62,452
TURNOUT
The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board estimates that turnout for this election will be between 60% to as much as 65%. This is much better than the turnout levels for 2010, which reached almost half of Wisconsin’s eligible voters, with 49.7% coming out to vote. Of course it was down significantly from the 2008 level of turnout which hit 69%.
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