News Story

Wisconsin Dems, Unions Could Claim Victory Even If Gov. Scott Walker Wins

Dems could regain Senate control, but victory might be short-lived

Madison, Wisc. — Don't be surprised if members of the traditional, mainstream media claim a union victory even if Gov. Scott Walker wins the recall vote underway today.

That's the buzz among well-placed Republican sources here who are hopeful that polling leading to the election is an indicator that Gov. Walker will prevail. However, they caution that it is likely the Democrats will win control of the Wisconsin Senate.

Democrats need to win just one of the four Senate recall elections taking place in the state to regain control of the Senate. It's believed they have a better than even chance in one race and a 50-50 chance in another.

If the Democrats win control of the Senate, some in the mainstream media are likely to call the election a draw or possibly even a union win, which is a message the unions also will promote. But this verdict would be off base.

If Walker stays in office, the victory isn't likely to do the Democrats any good.

Wisconsin's legislature has adjourned for the year and the Senate cannot return to session unless the Republican-controlled Assembly agrees to do so or the governor calls them back.

Half of the Senate faces the voters in November. It's expected that the Republicans will pick up at least two Senate seats at that time. By November the new legislative districts will be in use. These were drawn by the majority Republicans in 2011 and are tilted in the GOP's favor.

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.