Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker (R) was declared Wisconsin's 45th Governor at very early tonight by cruising to a seven point victory 53 percent to 45 percent victory over Democratic nominee Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Walker, who cruised to victory all across the state, ran a strong campaign that focused on getting the state's economy moving again by promising to get the state's fiscal house in order by reducing spending and providing tax relief to Wisconsin's small business, corporations and working families.
Walker, who celebrated his 43rd birthday today, takes back the Governor's office for the Republicans after 8 years of rule by outgoing Democratic Governor Jim Doyle. Walker joins several other Republicans Governor-elects who will storm into state capitols in January as a result of the Republican wave that went across the country.
In his victory speech in front of hundreds of cheering supporters,Walker said he would declare an economic emergency on his first day in office and call a special session of the Legislature to address his economic plan. He pledged to bring 250,000 jobs to the state by the end of his first term and cut an array of taxes, starting with those on multi-state corporations and businesses with 50 or fewer employees. He also promised to stop a federally funded $810 million passenger rail line from Milwaukee to Madison (
www.jsonline.com)
To read more about Walker's impressive victory, please click here:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/106580158.htmlJohnson Cruises to Victory over Feingold
Oshkosh plastics manufacturer and first-time candidate Ron Johnson (R) cruised to victory over three-term incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Russ Feingold by an impressive 53-45 percent victory. Johnson, who ran margins of victory across the state that were very similar to the Republican Governor's candidate Scott Walker, ran a very aggressive campaign through paid media predominantly that highlighted his business background and his "non-career politician" credentials as the centerpiece of his campaign.Johnson's victory was both historic and compelling for several reason as the was highlighted in his victory speech.
According the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Johnson will become the state's first Republican senator since Feingold defeated Bob Kasten in 1992. And he won despite the fact that most state residents, and even those who lived in his hometown, had never heard of him until he entered the race in May.
Johnson said in his victory address that "the straw that broke the camel's back" for him was Congress' approval of the health-care law. Johnson, framing himself as a citizen legislator, also vowed that he would work to end wasteful spending and reduce rising federal debt (www.jsonline.com).
To view more about Johnson's victory, please visit:www.jsonline.comRepublicans Pick Up Two Seats in the U.S. House of Representatives7th Congressional DistrictThe Republican Party of Wisconsin can celebrate tonight because it picked up two seats in Congress as part of the national wave that swept Republicans into control of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Wisconsin congressional delegation is now 5 Republicans and 3 Democrats after Republicans picked up the open 7th Congressional District, which was held by long-time U.S. Representative David Obey (D-Wausau) and with the defeat of two-term U.S. Representative Steve Kagen (D-Appleton).
In the 7th District, Republican nominee Ashland County District Attorney Sean Duffy (R-Ashland) cruised to victory of over the Democratic nominee State Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point). Duffy, who captured the long held Democratic open seat for the Republicans, by winning by an impressive 52 to 44 percent margin. Duffy focused his campaign on reining in federal spending, extending the Bush tax cuts and creating jobs for Northern Wisconsin's struggling economy.
Sean Duffy Biography:
Sean P. Duffy recently concluded ten years of service to the people of Ashland County, Wisconsin -- first as Special Prosecutor, then District Attorney. Sean was recognized as an aggressive prosecutor with a better than 90% trial success rate. He is most proud of his dedication to prosecuting child sex crimes. Working together with law enforcement, Sean helped make Ashland County one of the first counties in the state to investigate and prosecute child internet sex crimes.
Sean was born and raised in rural Wisconsin and has never strayed far from his roots. Wisconsin's storied lumber history runs through his veins. His great, great grandfather was one of the state's early pioneers and a laborer for the Northwestern Lumber Company. His great grandfather, one of the city of Hayward's founding settlers, was a sawyer for 27 years.
Four generations later, Sean is carrying on the family tradition as a nationally recognized professional lumberjack athlete. He is a two-time world champion in the 90-foot speed climb, three-time champion in the 60-foot and an accomplished log-roller. Sean has been a color commentator for ESPN's Great Outdoor Games, as well as a Badger State Games Honorary Athlete and takes pride in bringing national attention to a sport with vital roots in Wisconsin's proud history.
The tenth of eleven siblings, Sean worked his way through law school by performing in lumberjack shows and exhibitions across the state of Wisconsin and around the country. After graduating from law school he practiced law for two years in Hayward before becoming a special prosecutor in Ashland, Wisconsin. Shortly thereafter, he became the acting assistant D.A, and later the District Attorney of Ashland County.
8th Congressional District
Kaukauna Businessman Reid Ribble, the Republican nominee for the 8th Congressional District, defeated two-term Congressman Dr. Steve Kagen (D-Appleton) by a whopping 10 point margin of victory in a race that focused on the two-term Congressman and allergist's support of the comprehensive health care legislation, known as "Obama Care." Ribble won all parts of the expansive northeastern Wisconsin district and cruised to an impressive victory.
Reid Ribble Biography:
Reid is a third generation and lifelong Wisconsin resident. He was born in Neenah, WI and graduated in 1974 from Appleton East High School. After high school, he attended Grand Rapids School of Bible and Music with the intention of going into full time ministerial work. He then decided to follow in his father's footsteps by joining the family roofing business in 1976 and eventually rose to become president in 1981.
Reid owned and operated one of the most successful roof construction and consulting companies in the United States. Volunteering his time for over two decades, Reid is a member of National Roofing Contractors Association, the Wisconsin Roofing Contractors Association, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Fox Valley Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Home Builders as well as the Brown County and Outagamie County Home Builders Associations. Reid is actively involved in the local community and industry. In 2005, members of the National Roofing Contractors Association elected him to be president. Currently, he is serving as President of the Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress, the roofing industry's national foundation.
Reid is a very active in his local community, as well. For more than twenty years he was the head Varsity Volleyball coach at Appleton East High School. He has served two terms as a Director of WEMI radio in Appleton, two terms as a Director of Life Promotions and one term as Chairman of the Board of Life Promotions. Currently, Reid is serving on the corporate board of directors for the YMCA of the Fox Valley. In 2007, Appleton East High School honored him as the outstanding alumni of the year.
Reid is happily married to his wife DeaNa for 34 years. He has two children and two grandchildren.
Republicans Take Over the State Capitol by Huge Margins
Tuesday night was HUGE night for Republicans in the State Capitol. Republicans now control both the Senate and Assembly by wide margins by picking at least a 14 seats to now have a 59 to 40 margin in the State Assembly and by picking up four seats in the State Senate to now hold a 19 to 14 margin. In just two years, the State Capitol has gone from complete Democratic control with Democrats controlling the Governor's office, State Senate and State Assembly. Now, in just two short years, Republicans hold complete control by comfortable margins.
As mentioned above, Democrats lost four seats in the Senate with the most noteworthy being the loss of Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-Weston) who was defeated by a sizeable margin.
Below is the complete list of State Senate races (in numerical order):
SD 1: (Open--A. Lasse) Frank Lasse (R) defeats Monk Elmer (D) by a 60 to 40 percent margin.
SD 3: Incumbent Tim Carpenter (D) defeated Annette Miller Krznarich (R) by a 52-48 percent margin.
SD 5: Incumbent Jim Sullivan lost to Rep. Leah Vukmir (R) by a 54-46 percent margin
SD 7: (Open--Plale) Chris Larson (D) defeated Jess Ripp (R) by a 56-46 percent margin
SD 9: Incumbent Joe Leibham (R) defeated Jason Borden (D) by a 73-27 percent margin
SD 11: Incumbent Neal Kedzie (R) defeated L.D. Rockwell (D) by a 75-25 percent margin
SD 13: Incumbent Scott Fitzgerald (R) defeated Dwayne Block (D) by a 68-29 percent margin
SD 15: (Open--Robson) Tim Cullen (D) defeated Rick Richard (R) by a 59-41 percent margin
SD 17: Incumbent Dale Schultz (R) defeated Carol Beals (D) by a 63-37 percent margin
SD 19: Incumbent Mike Ellis (unopposed)
SD 21: Incumbent John Lehman (D) lost to Van Wanggaard (R) by a 54-46 percent margin
SD 23: Incumbent Pat Kreitlow (D) lost to former state Rep. Terry Moulton (R) by a 54-46 percent margin
SD 25: Incumbent Bob Jauch (D) defeated Dane Deutsch (R) by a 51-49 percent margin
SD 27: Incumbent Jon Erpenbach (D) vs. Kurt Schlicht (R) by a 61-39 percent margin
SD 29: Incumbent Russ Decker (D) lost to Pam Galloway (R) by a 53 to 47 percent margin
SD 31: Incumbent Kathleen Vinehout (D) won by a Ed Thompson (R) by a slim 50.1 to a 49.9 margin
SD 33: (Open--Kanavas) State Rep. Burt Zipperer won the Republican primary; he has no Democratic opponent
To view complete State Senate results, please click here:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/105000829.html#statesenate
State Assembly
The Republicans absolutely pummeled the Democrats in State Assembly races last night. The Republicans picked up at least 14 seats and now control at least 59 seats in the State Assembly compared to only control 45 seats last session.
Democrats across the state lost key races with the most noteworthy being the Speaker of the Assembly Mike Sheridan (D-Janesville) along with the expected loss of 20-term incumbent Marlin Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids) going down in defeat to much lesser funded and known opponents.
Key Races and their Results:
AD 2: Incumbent Ted Zigmunt (D) lost to Andre Jacque (R) by a 63-37 percent margin
AD 5: (Open--Nelson) Mert Summers (D) lost to Jim Steineke (R) by a 58-42 percent margin
AD 25: Incumbent Terry Van Akkeren (D) lost to Mike Endsley (R) by a 49-48 percent margin
AD 28: Incumbent Ann Hraychuck (D) lost to Erik Severson (R) by a 57-43 percent margin
AD 35: (Open--Friske) Tom Tiffany (R) lost to Jay Schmelling (D) by a 58-42 percent margin
AD 42: Incumbent Fred Clark (D) defeated Jack Cummings (R) by a 51-49 percent margin
AD 43: Incumbent Kim Hixson (D) lost to Evan Wynn (R) by a 53-47 percent margin
AD 44: Incumbent Speaker Mike Sheridan (D) lost to Joe Knilans (R) by a 52-48 percent margin
AD 45: (Open--Benedict) Roger Anclam (D) lost to Amy Loudenbeck (R) by a 52-46 percent margin
AD 49: Incumbent Phil Garthwaite (D) lost Travis Tranel (R) by a 57-43 percent margin
AD 51: (Open--Hilgenberg) John Simonson (D) lost to Howard Marklein (R) by a 52-48 percent margin
AD 67: (Open--Wood) Tom Larson (R) defeated C.W. King (D) vs. Thomas Lange (I) by a 63-33-4 percent margin
AD 68: Incumbent Kristen Dexter (D) lost to Kathleen Bermier (R) by a 50.4-49.6 margin
AD 72: Incumbent Marlin Schneider (D) lost to Scott Krug (R) 46-41-5 percent margin (third party candidate was the spoiler).
AD 75: (Open--Hubler) Steve Perala (D) lost to Roger Rivard (R) by a 51-49 percent margin
AD 80: (Open--Davis) Dan Henke (R) lost to Janis Ringhand (D) by a 53-47 percent margin
AD 88: Incumbent Jim Soletski (D) lost to John Klenke (R) by a 51-49 percent margin
AD 92: Incumbent Mark Radcliffe (D) defeated Dennis Clinard (R) by a 51-49 percent margin.
Analysis of State Capitol Power Switching:
There is no question that there will be a different focus of priorities as the Republicans, who control all three parts of government, focus on fixing the state's nearly $3 billion deficit and attempt to get the state's economy growing again. Governor-elect Walker and GOP legislative leadership have promised to solve the state's fiscal problems without raising taxes and aim to get the economy turned around by repealing the nearly $2 billion in tax increases that Governor Doyle and the Democrats passed last session when they controlled all three branches.
