Two Democrats Survive Recall in Wisconsin

Wisconsin — Two Democratic Wisconsin state senators targeted by Republicans survived their elections Tuesday, ending a tumultuous summer of recalls spurred by anger over how lawmakers reacted to Gov. Scott Walker's proposal curbing collective bargaining rights of public workers.
The recall elections in Wisconsin drew national attention with money pouring in from outside groups on both sides to influence the outcome. It's estimated that total spending may break $40 million on the nine recall races combined.
Democrats saw the recalls as a first step in an effort to roll back the sweeping gains made by Republicans in the 2010 elections in Wisconsin and other states. In the Midwestern state last November, Republicans won a U.S. Senate seat, the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the Wisconsin state legislature.
Walker insisted that curbing government employees' bargaining rights was necessary to reduce the state's budget deficit. Democrats claimed the state's new Republican governor was engaged in a power grab targeting labor unions whose support is essential for Democrats' election prospects.
The recalls resulted in Democrats picking up two seats through the nine recalls but were unable to wrest majority Senate control away from the Republicans, who now hold a narrow 17-16 majority. Before the recalls, Republicans had a 19-14 edge in the chamber.
The two senators facing recall Tuesday were among the 14 senators who fled the state in February in opposition to the Republican governor's proposal which passed despite their absence and has been held up by the state Supreme Court.
Democratic Sen. Bob Wirch of Pleasant Prairie defeated Kenosha attorney Jonathan Steitz, and Sen. Jim Holperin of Conover beat Republican Kim Simac of Eagle River, who is a supporter of the grassroots conservative tea party movement which supports small government and low taxes.


Recall supporters forced the elections to decide whether to unseat the Republicans for voting for the collective-bargaining bill and, in the case of the Democrats, for trying to block voting by leaving the state.


Last week Republicans maintained control of the state Senate, winning four of their six recall elections. Democrats gained two seats in those races, falling one short of the three seats they needed to flip the Senate.


One Democratic senator successfully defended his seat last month.


The outcome of the final two races leaves Republicans with a 17-16 majority in the Senate. Mr. Walker has said he plans to focus his efforts this fall on bills that can win the support of 20 or more senators.


With Republicans holding a one-seat lead, "we're going have a very different situation than in the past, because suddenly every member of the caucus has more power," said Sen. Dale Schultz, the only Republican to vote against the collective-bargaining bill, in an interview.


Mr. Schultz has been traveling the state with Democratic Sen. Tim Cullen, asking voters about issues they can work on together, Mr. Schultz said. The two senators, both considered moderates, did not face recall challenges.


Wisconsin, which has 10 electoral votes, went strongly for President Barack Obama in 2008 but swung to complete Republican control of the state legislature and governor's mansion in 2010.