Mid-Term Elections 2014

(AP) Wisconsin’s Republican Gov. Scott Walker has defeated Democratic challenger Mary Burke, winning re-election to a second term. Walker’s win Tuesday marks his third victory in four years. He won a first term in 2010 and a recall election in 2012 prompted by anger over a law that effectively ended collective bargaining for most public workers. The win also keeps Walker in the mix for a potential 2016 GOP presidential bid, although he downplayed such talk during the tough re-election campaign against Burke. She is a former Trek Bicycles executive and state Commerce Department secretary who argued that Walker failed the state and was too divisive.  But Walker prevailed by arguing that he turned around the state’s economy while cutting taxes and wiping out a budget shortfall.

(AP) Democrat Susan Happ concedes Wisconsin attorney general race to Republican Brad Schimel.

(AP) Democrat Ron Kind has won a 10th term representing western Wisconsin in the U.S. House.

(AP) Wisconsin voters have agreed to change the state constitution to prevent the state transportation fund from being siphoned to pay for other needs.

(AP) Democrat Mark Dayton has won a second term as Minnesota governor in the capstone race of his long political career.

(AP) Minnesota’s most senior member of Congress, Collin Peterson, has won his 13th term.

(AP) Democratic Rep. Tim Walz has won a fifth term in Congress in southern Minnesota’s 1st District, defeating Blue Earth businessman Jim Hagedorn.

(AP) Minnesota voters have re-elected Lori Swanson to a third term as attorney general, extending the DFL Party’s 43-year lock on the office.

(AP) Minnesota Democrat Rebecca Otto has won a third term as state auditor, beating Republican challenger Randy Gilbert.

(AP) U.S. Rep. and former Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan has been elected to a ninth term in Congress.

(AP) U.S. Rep. James Sensenbrenner has been elected to a 19th term in the U.S. House.

(AP) Democrat Gwen Moore has won another term in the U.S. House, defeating frequent opponent Dan Sebring.

(AP) Republican Grothman wins open US House seat in Wisconsin, will succeed more moderate Tom Petri.

(AP) Democratic U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan has won a second term in the U.S. House seat representing the Madison area.

(AP) U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble has won a third term in the U.S. House representing his eastern Wisconsin district centered on Green Bay.

(AP) U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy has defeated a former Ashland councilwoman to represent northern Wisconsin for a third term in Congress.

The incumbent Sheriff of Houston County was defeated last night. Douglas Ely lost to Mark Inglett, by an almost 2 to 1 margin. There’s a new Sheriff in Trempealeau County. Richard Anderson topped Tim Hovell by about 400 votes. In the Winona County Sheriff race, Ron Ganrude defeated Bill Spitzer. Ganrude takes over for the retiring Dave Brand.

Forty Wisconsin school districts had more than 50 referendum questions on almost 700 million dollars for new and improved buildings, plus higher taxes to keep current programs going.

Voters in Sparta said yes for a third straight time to allow the School District to exceed its revenue limit by $750 thousand a year for support, safety, technology, and instruction materials.

A school referendum in the Black River Falls School District passed with flying colors. Voters there said yes the district can issue bonds not to exceed $22.5 million for a new elementary school and updates to other schools.

The Caledonia School District was given the okay Tuesday by voters to go ahead with a $495 thousand bonding referendum for facilities and equipment.

Voters narrowly passed a referendum in the Rushford-Peterson School District. By 89 votes out of 2100 votes cast, voters said yes the district can issue bonds not to exceed $38.1 million for a new Early Childhood-Twelfth Grade center.

Another Minnesota school district passed a referendum Tuesday. 934 people said yes to the Lewiston-Altura School District to renew the expiring referendum levy of $304 per pupil for the next ten years. 421 voters said no.

Referendum Town of Holland Should the Town of Holland be allowed to exceed its tax levy by 9% for fiscal year 2014?

100% REPORTING
*NO 1330

YES 438

Referendum Village of West Salem Should the Village of West Salem be allowed to exceed its tax levy by 25% for fiscal year 2014?

100% REPORTING

*NO 1400

YES 623

Wisconsin State Senate

District 31
Kathleen Vinehout-D-Inc, 35,477, 52%
Mel Pittman-R, 32,271, 48%

Wisconsin State Assembly

District 70
Nancy VanderMeer-R, 11,759, 53%
Amy Sue Vruwink-D-Inc, 10,495, 47%

District 92
Chris Danou-D-Inc, 11,853, 57%
Isaac Weix-R, 9,088, 43%

District 94
Steve Doyle-D-Inc, 13,652, 54%
Tracie Happel-R, 11,606, 46%

District 96
Lee Nerison-R-Inc, 12,209, 59%
Peter Flesch-D, 8,459, 41%