Yesterday's Vote In Wisconsin

A powerful reminder of why judicial elections matter.  Especially today.  Especially in Wisconsin.  Even if you don't believe judges should be elected. Could be coming to your state, soon.



We are looking at a tight, tight race showing challenger JoAnne Kloppenburg ahead by only 300-some-odd votes over incumbent Justice David Prosser, a former Republican speaker of the Assembly. Those opposed to Gov. Scott Walter's proposal taking away most state workers’ collective bargaining rights remain hopeful that a change in the Supreme Court's ideological balance might up the chances the law will ultimately be stricken down.

Gov. Scott Walker said this afternoon that the spring election results show there are "two very different worlds in this state."

"You've got a world driven by Madison, and a world driven by everybody else out across the majority of the rest of the state of Wisconsin," Walker said at a press conference in the Capitol.

Walker said he didn't believe the election was a referendum on his policies, saying the results reinforce Wisconsin's status as a "purple" state. He attributed other victories by Dem-backed candidates outstate to local factors, while noting that conservative candidates such as Jim Ladwig in Racine also emerged victorious Tuesday. In particular, he said the results in the race for his former post as Milwaukee County executive reflected its status as a "dark blue county."

Now, on to perusing what this all might have to say about the chances the eight Republican State Senators who voted in favor of the law, will actually be recalled...