Wisconsin liberals walk away with a victory in spite of recall failure

Democrats, liberals and labor in particular suffered a bitter defeat Tuesday night in failing to unseat Republican Governor Scott Walker in a special recall election. However, there is good news for Wisconsin liberals coming out of last night’s elections.

In a closely decided state senate race in Racine County, former state Senator John Lehman appears to have ousted current state Senator Van Wanggaard on Tuesday with 36,255 votes to Wanggaard’s 35,476 with 100% of the precincts reporting as reported in the Racine Journal Times.

In other state election returns, 3 Republicans won state Senate races, however with Lehman’s apparent victory over incumbent Wanggaard in Racine county, Democrats will take control of the Senate with a narrow 17-16 majority.

In a prepared statement, Senate Democratic Leader Mark Miller said:

“Tonight, Wisconsinites across the 21st Senate District elected a new State Senator. By electing a Democratic Senate, the people of Wisconsin have opened the door to responsible dialogue and if needed provide a bulwark against continued political extremism, and restored checks and balances to the Wisconsin Legislature. I look forward to working again with Senator-elect Lehman in the State Senate in the coming months.”

While there is a possibility of a recount with a slim margin of only 779, Lehman is expected to prevail as the victor of last night’s election. If the election results are not challenged, Lehman could sworn in by the end of the month. Reid Magney, spokesman for the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (GAB), said it could take up to 18 days to certify the results of the election. Then the winner has up to 10 days to take the oath of office.

With elections in November and with Legislature is not scheduled to be in session again until January, at first glance it appears that the Democratic control of the Senate will have little consequence for liberals and labor in the months to come. However, if Wisconsin Republicans had swept the recall elections across the board and gained control of the Senate as well as the Governor’s office, it is likely that Walker would have called the Legislature into special session in an attempt to pass additional major piece of legislation prior to the November election where control of the Senate and the State Assembly, where the GOP holds a large majority, will be contested.

Lehman’s victory ensures the governor will no longer have the option of taking that unusual step. As state Rep. Cory Mason, Democrat – Racine, tweeted: “Lehman defeats Wanggaard in WI recall election; Democrats win control of State Senate; thwart Walker agenda”.

The Wisconsin State Journal followed up a few hours ago with this:

” Though taking control of the Senate is a huge moral victory for the Democrats, they won’t be able to do much with it, at least for a while. The Legislature isn’t scheduled to convene again until January, and Democrats will have to defend their majority in November’s elections.

But Democrats will be able to block any Republican legislation should Walker call for a special session of the Legislature. And if the Democrats maintain their majority, it would make life politically difficult for Walker for the first time; his fellow Republicans have controlled both the state Assembly and Senate since he took office in January 2011.”

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