thewheelerreport

STATE SENATE
(District-by-District)

Democrats early this morning claimed the majority in the Senate. Democrats won four seats previously held by Republicans to take an 18-15 majority into the 2007 Legislature.

In the 21st District, Democrat John Lehman defeated Republican Bill McReynolds in the district where Republican Cathy Stepp did not run for re-election. With all votes counted, Lehman got 31,736 votes to McReynolds' 28,069.

In the 5th District, Democrat Jim Sullivan defeated incumbent Republican Tom Reynolds 27,837 to 27,179.

In the 23rd District, Democrat Pat Kreitlow defeated incumbent Republican Dave Zien 31,564 to 30,468.

In the 31st District, Democrat Kathleen Vinehout defeated incumbent Republican Ron Brown 31,946 to 29,865.

Republicans Scott Fitzgerald (13th) and Michael Ellis (19th) are unopposed.

Democrats Tim Carpenter (3rd) and Jon Erpenbach (27th) are unopposed.

All other incumbents were re-elected.

STATE ASSEMBLY
(By District: 1-28. 29-50. 51-77. 78-99.

Democrats narrowed the Republican majority to 52-47 from 60-39 by winning two open seats and apparently defeating five incumbent Republicans.

In the 28th District, Democrat Ann Hraychuck defeated incumbent Republican Mark Pettis 10,450 to 10,150.

In the open 37th District, Democrat Andy Jorgensen defeated Republican Greg Gasper, 11,028 to 9,942. Independent Ivan Davis got 1,003 votes. (Republican David Ward did not seek re-election and has resigned.)

In the 49th District, Democrat Phil Garthwaite defeated incumbent Republican Gabe Loeffelholz, 9,281 to 8,297. Independent John Murphy got 547 votes.

In the 51st District, Democrat Steve Hilgenberg defeated incumbent Republican Steve Freese, 11,182 to 9,719.

In the open 54th District, Democrat Gordon Hintz defeated Republican Julie Pung Leschke, 13,353 to 8,111. (Republican Gregg Underheim did not seek re-election.)

In the 88th District, Democrat Jim Soletski defeated incumbent Republican Judy Krawczyk, 8,927 to 8,849.

In the 93rd District, Democrat Jeff Smith defeated incumbent Republican Rob Kreibich 11,878 to 11,562.

In the 43rd District, Democrat Kim Hixson defeated incumbent Republican Debi Towns 10,287 to 10,278.** Revised.

GOVERNOR

Governor Doyle became the first Democrat to be re-elected governor in more than 30 years. He defeated Republican Congressman Mark Green 1,135,714 to 976,670. Green Party Candidate Nelson Eisman got 40,837 votes. (3592 of 3597 precincts reporting)

ATTORNEY GENERAL

In the race for Attorney General, Republican J. B. Van Hollen defeated Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, 1,061,991 to 1,052,652. (3592 of 3597 precincts reporting)

CONGRESS

With 67% counted, Democrat Steve Kagen leads Republican John Gard, 52.4% to 47.6% and will win the 8th Congressional District seat vacated by Republican Mark Green, who ran unsuccessfully for governor.l

Incumbents Republican Paul Ryan (1st), Democrat Tammy Baldwin (2nd), Democrat Ron Kind (3rd), Democrat Gwen Moore (4th), Republican F. James Sensenbrenner (5th), Democrat Dave Obey (7th) will win re-election.

Incumbent Republican Tim Petri (6th) was unopposed.

MARRIAGE AMENDMENT

Voters said they favored institution of the death penalty in certain first-degree murder cases, 1,259,489 to 860,996.

DEATH PENALTY

The constitutional amendment to prohibit same sex marriages and civil unions was adopted,1,162,249 to 931,592 .

U. S. SENATE

Incumbent Democratic U. S. Senator Herb Kohl handily defeated Republican Robert Gerald Lorge to win his third term in the Senate. Kohl got 1,435,498 votes to Lorge's 628,688. Green Party candidate Rae Vogeler got 42,274.

SECRETARY OF STATE

Incumbent Democrat Doug LaFollette defeated Republican Sandy Sullivan 1,181,169 to 794,604 with 3592 of 3597 precincts reporting. Green Party candidate Michael LaForest got 92,358 votes.

STATE TREASURER

Democrat Dawn Marie Sass defeated incumbent Republican State Treasurer Jack Voight, 968,169 to 959,891 with 3592 of 3597 precincts reporting. Libertarian Tim Peterson got 59,524 votes, while Green Party candidate Winston Sephus got 57,044.