Recall Elections Update

Wisconsin residents are headed to the polls this summer to cast their ballots in an unprecedented number of recall elections.

Nine Wisconsin Senators are being recalled largely in response to Governor Walker’s successful attempt to strip many collective bargaining rights from public workers. Three Democrats are being targeted after fleeing the state for three weeks in an effort to delay the changes, while six Republicans face recalls for supporting the measure.

The results of these elections will determine which party has control of the state Senate. Democrats need to gain three seats in order to flip the body’s leadership.

The first general election, in which Democratic incumbent Sen. Dave Hansen of Green Bay defeated Republican challenger David Vanderleest occurred on July 19th. Democrats hailed the victory, while Republicans noted that Vanderleest was not the preferred candidate since Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) fell two signatures short of requisite 400 signatures to get his name on the ballot.

Also on the 19th, two Republican primaries were held in districts represented by Democratic Senators Jim Holperin and Robert Wirch.

In the primary in Holperin’s district, Kim Simac, a riding club owner and tea party activist from Eagle River, bested Robert Lussow, a flight instructor, retired airline pilot, and Lincoln County Board chairman from Tomahawk.Simac defeated Lussow, garnering 61 percent of the votes.

Attorney Jonathan Steitz of Pleasant Prairie defeated Fred Ekornaas of Bristol, former sheriff and current County Board vice chairman in Kenosha County, in Wirch’s district.

The winners of each primary, Simac and Steitz, will face the Democratic incumbents in a general election on August 16th.

The six other Senators being recalled, Sen. Rob Cowles (R-Allouez), Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls), Sen. Luther Olsen (R-Ripon), Sen. Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac), and Sen. Dan Kapanke (R-La Crosse), will face their challengers in general elections on August 9th. Each Democratic challenger in these races successfully defeated primary challenges from “protest” candidates, Republicans running as Democrats, on July 12th.

This post was authored by Great Lakes Legal Foundation staff attorney Emily Kelchen.