In Wisconsin Recall, Republican Senators Retain 3 Seats and Lose 2 with Final Race Undecided

[Hissyspit]

Source: New York Times / MSNBC

@nytimes
The New York Times
In Wisconsin recall, Republican senators retain 3 seats and lose 2 with final race undecided nyti.ms/oH7NnB
6 minutes ago via web

At Least 3 Republicans Retain Seats in Wisconsin Recall Votes
By MONICA DAVEY
Published: August 9, 2011

SAYNER, Wis. — At least two Republican state senators lost their jobs on Tuesday, as Wisconsin residents cast votes in six recall elections that grew out of the state’s battle this year over Republican-led cuts to collective bargaining rights for public workers.

Three other Republicans survived the recall efforts, but results were still being tallied late Tuesday in a final race, that of State Senator Alberta Darling, a powerful Republican leader in Madison, leaving partisan control of the State Senate, which was at stake in these races, uncertain. Republicans have held a 19-to-14 majority in the Senate; a gain of three seats by Democrats would shift control to them.

Two Republicans who lost their seats were among those who had, all along, been believed to be the most vulnerable. In La Crosse, a Democratic challenger, Jennifer Shilling, defeated Senator Dan Kapanke, according to preliminary results from The Associated Press. And in the Fond du Lac area, Senator Randy Hopper, a Republican whose marital troubles became a topic of discussion during the campaign, was defeated by Jessica King, a Democrat.

- snip -

Even after full results are known, though, control of the State Senate may still be in question. Two Senate Democrats, who, along with the rest of the Democrats, opposed the collective bargaining cuts, face their own recall elections next week. A third Democrat survived a recall last month.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/10/us/politics/10wisconsin.html?_r=1&smid=tw-nytimes

[midnight]

1. K&R

[xxqqqzme]

2. KnR

[No Elephants]

3. Republicans kept 4 out 6 seats? At least we gained two, but this strains credulity.

Unbelievable that voters prefer Walker's anti-people police state.

I could not feel worse for Wisconsin's Democratic voters. They must be so dispirited.

Please, focus on the gains and stand together in defending the other Democratic seats.

[MBS]

4. YES. I agree with everything you've said. n/t

[Laura PourMeADrink]

5. they needed 3 to gain control, right. damn...after all that

effort. It was just so amazing and so admirable

[primavera]

7. Keep in mind we're talking HEAVILY Repuke districts

One commentator last night remarked that one of the districts facing recall had not had a Democratic representative since Grover Cleveland was president. These districts have been heavily gerrymandered to make them all but unassailable. Repukes spent more money defending against the recall than any state level election in the history of the US. Yet, despite all that, Repukes lost a third of the recall votes. Okay, so it's not as fantastic as it would have been if we'd retaken control, but still, it's a pretty fucking impressive accomplishment.

[FBaggins]

13. They can't have been TOO heavily red if the president won them all in 2008

and only one by less than five points. Three of those senators won their last race by less than 3% (two by 1% or less), though that was in a strong Democratic year.

Unfortunately, the were worried about losing the Senate yesterday and made sure that they pushed through a new gerrymander for 2012 first... so it may only get worse.

[harun]

8. I think they should be very happy with the results. It won't overturn

what Walker did but the Repukes who got in line to support him will think twice about it next time see there are real consequences for doing so. That is crucial and a big win.

[bobthedrummer]

10. That fact alone equals the previous WI legislative recall history of 2-it was historic here.

I'm an Independent btw.

[auburngrad82]

6. Now for the really important part

We have to hold on to the two Democratic seats that are up for recall next week. If we can keep it with the GOP holding only a single seat majority we can probably delay a lot of the GOP's plans until we can get to the point where the other GOP senators are up for reelection.

[bobthedrummer]

9. We are going to recall Scott Walker n/t

[Robbins]

11. Well

There Is no way to spin It Republicans won.Winning 4 of 6 recalls means they will take the lession they can do wahtever they want,
and voters won't punish them.

COnsidering Reid appointed baucus to supercongress almost gurantees cuts will be made to Socia Seucrity,Medicare,and Medicaid.And
tuesday was an even worse night for the Democrats.

[regnaD kciN]

12. Now, there's a truly "brilliant" comment...

COnsidering Reid appointed baucus to supercongress almost gurantees cuts will be made to Socia Seucrity,Medicare,and Medicaid.

Leaving aside that your spelling and grammar here are at about the "Get a brain, Morans!" level, you are aware that Baucus voted against the recommended cuts of the Simpson "catfood commission" debt panel, aren't you?