The 2012 Wisconsin Senate recall elections were a set of recall elections for four Wisconsin state senators held on June 5, 2012. Four of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate were up for election—all odd-numbered districts. Before the election, four of these seats were held by Republicans. The primary election was held on May 8, 2012.
These recall elections followed the largest group of recall elections in U.S. history during the previous year, in which Republicans kept control of the Wisconsin Senate. Democrats flipped one Republican-held seat, regaining control of the chamber for the first time since 2008.
After the elections, Democrats held 17 of 33 seats for the remainder of the 100th Wisconsin Legislature, but no legislative sessions took place during this time.
Background Voters put four state senators up for recall, all Republicans, because of the budget repair bill proposed by Governor Scott Walker and circumstances surrounding it. Democrats targeted Republicans for voting to significantly limit public employee collective bargaining. Scholars could cite only four times in American history when more than one state legislator has been recalled at roughly the same time over the same issue. The recall elections occurred on June 5, with May 8 being the date of the primary election.
These recall elections followed the largest group of recall elections in U.S. history during the previous year, in which Republicans kept control of the Wisconsin Senate. In the June 5, 2012 recall elections, Democrats appeared to have taken over one seat from Republicans.
Results summary SeatsParty(majority caucus shading)TotalDemocraticRepublicanLast election (2010)61117Total after last election (2010)141933Total before this election161733Up for election044of which:Incumbent retiring000Vacated011Unopposed000This election134Change from last election 5 8Total after this election171633Change in total 3 3
Close races Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:
(gain)
Outgoing incumbents
Vacated office
Pam Galloway, representing district 29 since 2010, resigned on March 12, 2012, to take care of her family
Campaign
Recall petitions Dist.IncumbentRecall petitionMemberPartyFirst electedSignatures requiredSignatures approved (%)Status13Rep.199416,742Recall held on June 5.17Rep.14,545Recall not held.21Rep.201015,353Recall held on June 5.23Rep.201014,958Recall held on June 5.25Dem.198615,270Recall not held.29Rep.201015,647Recall held on June 5.
District 17 On March 19, 2012, paperwork was filed with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board to create a committee to explore recalling Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center). To initiate a recall against Schultz, organizers would have had to submit 14,545 signatures to the G.A.B.. The effort was launched due to Schultz opposing a bill the week prior that would have helped Gogebic Taconite, a Florida-based mining company, set up an iron mine in northwestern Wisconsin.
District 25 On March 19, 2012, paperwork was filed with the G.A.B. to authorize a recall petition against Robert Jauch (D-Poplar). To initiate a recall against Jauch, organizers would have had to submit at least 15,270 signatures to the G.A.B.. The effort was launched due to Jauch opposing a bill from the previous week that would have helped Gogebic Taconite set up an iron mine in northwestern Wisconsin. Proponents of the recall argued that Jauch had cost Ashland County and Iron County jobs that would have alleviated unemployment. The recall effort was ultimately suspended on May 11, with organizers redirecting their attention to supporting Scott Walker in the gubernatorial recall election.
'Placeholder' candidates Similarly to the previous recalls in 2011, the Republican Party backed primary challengers – known as "fake Democrats" due to being Republicans who ran in Democratic primaries – to all Democratic candidates running against Republican incumbents. The stated purpose of this was to prevent the recall elections from being held on the same day as the Democratic primary in the gubernatorial recall election and to give Republican incumbents and candidates more time to campaign.
Polling Dist. Date of poll Candidate Result inmost recent poll Poll information 13 April 13–15 Scott Fitzgerald (R-inc.)54% Conducted by PPP Lori Compas (D) 40% 21 Van Wanggaard (R-inc.)48% John Lehman (D) 46% 23 Terry Moulton (R-inc.)51% Kristen Dexter (D) 41% 29 Jerry Petrowski (R)51% Donna Seidel 37%
Aftermath Although the victory gave Democrats control of the Senate, the state legislature would not be in regular session again until after the November 2012 election when control of the legislature would again be contested. After the November 2012 election, Republicans regained control of the state Senate due to the resignation of one Democrat and two losses by Democrats to Republicans.
Race summary Dist.IncumbentThis raceMemberPartyFirst electedStatusCandidates13Republican1994Incumbent retained21Republican2010Incumbent recalled.New member elected.Democratic gain.23Republican2010Incumbent retained29--Vacant--Previous incumbent resigned Mar. 16, 2012.New member elected.Republican hold.
Detailed results
District 13 Incumbent Republican Scott Fitzgerald ran for re-election. He defeated Democrat Lori Compas and Libertarian Terry Virgil in the recall election and was retained in office.
District 21 Incumbent Republican Van H. Wanggaard ran for re-election. He was defeated by former Democratic senator John Lehman and recalled from office.
The initial results for the race were too close to call, with Lehman appearing to lead Wanggaard by less than 800 votes. The subsequent election canvas the following week confirmed Lehman's lead. Despite this, Wanggaard requested a recount, citing potential election irregularities involving potentially thousands of voters. The recount, held from June 20–July 2, decreased Lehman's margin by 15 votes. Due to the close results, several Republicans, including future Speaker of the Assembly Robin Vos, made false claims of voter fraud to explain Lehman's victory over Wanggaard. In the end, Wanggaard conceded to Lehman on July 10, 2012.
District 23
Republican Terry Moulton ran for re-election. He defeated former Democratic legislator Kristen Dexter in the recall election and was retained in office.
District 29 Incumbent Republican Pam Galloway resigned on March 12 due to personal reasons, leaving the district open. Republican state representative Jerry Petrowski defeated Democratic legislator Donna J. Seidel and retained the seat for Republicans.
See also 2011 Wisconsin protests 2011 Wisconsin Act 10 2012 Wisconsin elections 2012 Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election 2012 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial recall election
Notes
References
External links Elections & Voting at the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board Database of Governor Walker and state senator recall petitions