Wisconsin Republican state senators lose 2 of 6 recall elections but hold on to state senate majority by 1 vote

**Jenna** · 08-10-11, 06:52 AM

Although two of the Republicans — Senators Dan Kapanke of La Crosse and Randy Hopper of Fond du Lac — were removed by Democratic challengers on Tuesday before the ends of their terms in office, Republicans still hold a majority — now 17 to 16 — over Democrats in the Senate. Until Tuesday, Republicans had dominated with a 19 to 14 majority, but with six recall elections in a single day, the damage for Republicans could have been far worse, and Democrats and some national labor groups had hoped it would be.

Until now, recalls of state lawmakers were rather rare here. Since such recalls were first permitted in 1926, only four such elections, which allow a new challenger to oppose an incumbent before a term’s end, had been held, and only two incumbents lost.

To some, the recalls had become not just a measure of control over legislation in Madison but a larger referendum on Republican takeovers of statehouses in 2010 and also a gauge of voters’ moods, at least in one battleground state, in the lead-up to the 2012 presidential election.

More here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/10/us...wisconsin.html

**Bjohnson63** · 08-10-11, 07:42 AM

If it weren't for the Packers... not many would live here. LOL

**pgg** · 08-10-11, 10:33 AM

Should have removed all the Dems that ran away from their jobs.

**Five-0** · 08-10-11, 11:08 AM

Seeing how much the unions spent on the districts, this is a big win for Scott Walker. Not to mention that the recalls involving the Dems are about to start up too. Two or three of those is memory serves me.

**keith720** · 08-10-11, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by pgg

Should have removed all the Dems that ran away from their jobs.

I agree. The Flee-Bag 14 should all get the boot. In next weeks Democrat recall race, I expect they'll loose both seats, giving the republicans an even bigger majority.