What's new from Wisconsin?

I doubt that anyone reading this post is unaware of what has been happening in Wisconsin with regard to the collective bargaining rights of teachers and other public employees. If you've been on vacation in Antarctica, check out the blog posts from early June for details.

Over the past few weeks, there have been a series of recall elections. Three Democratic seats were in play, as were six Republican seats in the state senate. If the Democrats held onto their seats, and defeated three Republicans, control of the senate would shift to the Democrats. The assembly and the governorship would still be in Republican hands, but at least the Democrats would be able to prevent any additional damage.

All the Democrats held their seats, and two Republicans were defeated. Close, but no cigar? Maybe not.

There is one Republican in the state senate who is much closer to center than to the far right. He has indicated that he will not go along with far-out ideas such as privatizing Wisconsin's schools. He will be playing the part of Justice Kennedy. Going to the right on some issues, and agreeing with the left on others.

We need to remember that not all the citizens of Wisconsin could participate in these elections. Only the voters of specific districts could vote. All of the Republicans were from districts so bright red that they were elected in 2008 on the same day that Obama was winning Wisconsin by 14 points. Flipping 1/3 of those districts was an accomplishment.

160,000 voters voted Democratic. If 1,100 votes were switched, the Democrats would have had their third seat.

According to a NY Times editorial on the subject: "Republicans will not admit this, but the numbers showed significant strength for Democrats even in the districts they lost — strength that could grow if lawmakers continue cutting spending and taxes while reducing the negotiating rights of working families. In one rural senatorial district that had not elected a Democrat in a century, the Democratic candidate reached 48 percent of the vote. Another race was also close, and as Nate Silver noted in The Times, the overall results suggest that a contemplated statewide recall of Mr. Walker himself would be too close to call."


The Times concludes: "...voters around the country who oppose the widespread efforts to undermine public unions — largely financed by corporate interests — should draw strength from Tuesday’s success, not discouragement."