PrintFebruary 23, 2011
The Wisconsin Numbers that Democrats are Ignoring
The way the left is attacking Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and claiming to be in favor of "democracy" could make one think that the Republicans are the ones who lost the November election there, and therefore Walker should not be doing what he is doing regarding the budget and the unions. But to the contrary: the biggest Republican success story of November was indeed in Wisconsin! Let us recap some numbers:
- Wisconsin is a state where the Democrats won the 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008 Presidential Elections by margins of 3.6%, 4.3%, 10.3%, 0.27%, 0.40%, and 13.9%, yet Republican Walker just three months ago, won his seat by close to a 6% margin -- which is way better than the 0.27 and 0.40 percentage losses that President George W. Bush squeezed out in his two election battles there.
And where is a recap on the other 2010 election results as reported by the Wisconsin REALTORS Association:
- Republicans swept top-of-the-ticket races in 2010 for the first time since 1986: Governor, U.S. Senate, Attorney General, and even picked-up the office of State Treasurer.
- Republicans gained three new members to Wisconsin's federal delegation (one Senator and two House members). The last time either party added more than one member was 1974. The Wisconsin Congressional delegation make up: 6 Republicans and 4 Democrats.
- Republicans gained control of the State Senate 19-14. Going into November 2nd, Democrats controlled the Senate 18-15. The GOP even knocked off Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-Westin).
- Republicans gained control of the State Assembly 60-38-1. Going into November 2nd, Democrats controlled the Assembly 51-46-2. The Republicans knocked off Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan (D-Janesville.
- First time since 1938 that Wisconsin gained a Republican governor and U.S. Senator. This was the best midterm election for Wisconsin Republicans in 72 years.
- JB Van Hollen is the first Republican Attorney General to win re-election since Robert Warren in 1970.
- Republicans defended all but one of their 46 seats [in the State Assembly].
Indeed, these wins do not give Walker and the Wisconsin Republicans at large a green light for an arrogant "I won" attitude, but they certainly did sweep the elections in November. As such, the Democrats should learn what Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said when he voted for Elena Kagan and also said when he voted for Sonia Sotomayor: "Elections have consequences!" No, Democrats in Wisconsin do not need to vote for Walker's plan. But please... Grow up, come back to work, and eat the results of the elections.
