Published 15 Jul, 2011
In all six Wisconsin state senate Democratic primaries the real Democratic candidates won against fake Democrats put forward by Tea Party backers hoping to stall the recall election of Republican state senators who are facing the wrath of Wisconsin voters for ramming through the bill that cripples collective bargaining.
Republicans ran fake Democratic candidates in all six districts in an attempt to confuse voters and give the Republican incumbents more time to campaign, raise money from corporate backers and push the election farther back from the historic protests over the passage of the bill stripping public workers of their rights. However, Wisconsin voters saw through this sham and moved the real candidates forward to the recall election on August 9. This was a significant victory because Wisconsin has an open primary system, which allows Republicans to vote in Democratic primaries and vice versa.
TWU played a role in the successful outcome. International Vice President and Director of Strategic Planning Roger Toussaint, ATD Assistant Director Robert Gless, and Senior Counsel Dean Hubbard joined in helping to turn Wisconsinites out to vote.
“There is a clear energy to restore democracy to Wisconsin. We are proud of Wisconsin voters for seeing through the dirty tricks, and proud that TWU played a part in helping them do so,” said TWU International President James C. Little.
If the Democrats pick up at least three seats in the state senate they will become the majority and will be able to oppose Gov. Scott Walker’s reactionary anti-worker agenda.
Here are the results:
State Senate – District 2 – Dem Primary
Nussbaum 14,200 65%
Junkermann 7,576 35%
State Senate – District 8 – Dem Primary
Pasch 20,915 64%
Huber 11,660 36%
State Senate – District 10 – Dem Primary
Moore 17,496 54%
Weix 14,990 46%
State Senate – District 14 – Dem Primary
Clark 14,989 67%
Church 7,281 33%
State Senate – District 18 – Dem Primary
King 19,562 69%
Buckstaff 8,957 31%
State Senate – District 32 – Dem Primary
Shilling 25,338 70%
Smith 10,664 30%