Wisconsin and the Art of Recall Elections

Started by Valerian, August 09, 2011, 01:39:26 PM

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Valerian

And we will have it down to an art form by the time this is over.

Democratic State Senator Dave Hansen of Green Bay has already survived the recall election Republicans organized against him, retaining his seat with 65% of the vote.

Today, there are six recall elections, all against Republican senators.  On August 16th, two more Democrats will face recall elections, making nine in all.

Since 1908, there have been just 20 such recalls in state legislatures.  So we're breaking new ground.  Turnout is expected to rival that for a presidential election in some areas.  And no wonder, with the Packers urging people to vote.  Specifically, they're urging people to vote Democrat, as they traditionally ally with the police and firefighters unions, who have left their usual Republican tendencies behind in order to show solidarity with the state workers.

Don't know where to go to vote, or if you have a recall election in your area?  This link will help you out.  A general summary of the candidates is available here, with a more in-depth look here.  Seventeen seats are needed for a majority in the senate; currently 19 are held by Republicans and the remaining 14 by Democrats, so the numbers are close and the stakes are high.

A live blog is available here, and there are some links on this page that will let you listen to recaps and analysis later in the day.  Strangely, live coverage of these elections isn't easy to find, though whether there's any significance to that one way or another I couldn't say.
"To live honorably, to harm no one, to give to each his due."
~ Ulpian, c. 530 CE

itsbeenfun2000

Unfortunately only two of the republicans got ousted. Considering the tightness of one of the races in a traditional Republican area it wasn't a total loss

Callie Del Noire

Quote from: itsbeenfun2000 on August 10, 2011, 12:54:46 AM
Unfortunately only two of the republicans got ousted. Considering the tightness of one of the races in a traditional Republican area it wasn't a total loss

It sends a message that it's not business as usual. That has to account for something.