Scott Walker, the first time governor of Wisconsin has survived the recall election pressed on him by the unions. And by a wide margin. Walker lead Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett 54% to 45% with 95% of the vote split. Effectively giving Walker the majority and for the second time he gave Barrett a loss.
Barrett conceded late into the night, stating that the ‘state is still divided’ but he says that he hopes that both sides can work to the families of Wisconsin.
Also in the evening, Gov. Walker went out and thanked his supporters, who have put him, and themselves, in the history books. Scott Walker is the first U.S. governor ever to survive a recall election. Out that history, there has only been three recall elections, Walkers being the third.
Walker talked to his supporters and promised that he would meet with state lawmakers soon and urged the citizens of Wisconsin to come together. ”Now is the time to move forward,” he said. “Tomorrow we are Wisconsinites. … But bringing the state together will be tough. There’s no doubt about it.”
The governor’s victory also has dealt a huge blow to the labor unions who brought it about in the first place. Their chosen nominee lost to Barrett in the primary, and after that they seemed to lack the enthusiasm to get Walker out. Not to mention that in the primary, Gov. Walker got more votes than the two democrat nominees combined. That in itself spelled out trouble for the unions.
This will also play largely into how the state of Wisconsin will swing in the November presidential elections. Back in 2008, Wisconsin was a state that helped give then candidate Obama his victory over John McCain.
The state had already been appearing to shift to a more conservative/republican based state, since in the past elections they have elected a majority of republicans, including Walker.
Most likely this will become another battle ground state that the democrats lose this year. With Florida appearing to shift away, and Ohio hanging by a thread, they will have to work extra hard to keep Pres. Obama’s reelection from turning into an embarrassing loss.
UPDATE-
Wisconsin’s Lieutenant Gov. Rebecca Kleefish defeated her democrat challenger in the recall election. Making another mark on history.
Shawn_the_Writer
