2011 Wisconsin Senate recall elections

none 2011 Wisconsin Senate recall elections 250px Wisconsin legislative no 2010 Wisconsin Senate election 2010 2012 Wisconsin Senate recall elections 2012 (recall) 9 of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin State Senate17 seats needed for a majority 2011 07 19 – 2011 08 16 Seats up Races won Sen. Fitzgerald (3523124714) (cropped).jpg Scott Fitzgerald Republican Party of Wisconsin 13th–Juneau 11 seats, 59.11% 4 2 239,351 49.3% Sen. Miller (3347648200) (1).jpg Mark Miller Democratic Party of Wisconsin 16th–Monona 6 seats, 40.54% 5 2 245,962 50.7% 250px#F48882 Republican hold#0671B0 Democratic gain #92C5DE Democratic hold#CCCCCC No election Results by gains and holds 250px#e27f7f 50–60%#7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% Results by winning party vote share President Michael Ellis Republican Party of Wisconsin Michael Ellis Republican Party of Wisconsin 19 14 17 16 January 12, 2011 January 1, 2007 2012 Wisconsin Senate election 2012 2008 2008 Wisconsin Senate election August 2011 The 2011 Wisconsin Senate recall elections were a series of recall elections for nine Wisconsin state senators held on July 19, 2011, August 9, 2011, and August 16, 2011. Nine of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate were up for election—all even-numbered districts. were held during the summer of 2011; one was held on July 19, and six on August 9, with two more held on August 16. Before the elections, six seats were held by Republicans, while three were held by Democrats. The primary election was held in July. Background Act 10 In the 2010 elections, Republicans won a trifecta for the first time since 1994. Using this newly-gained trifecta, Republicans began enacting a series of highly controversial pieces of legislation, with the chief among them being Wisconsin Act 10. Act 10, also known as the "Budget Repair Bill," sought to eliminate the collective bargaining rights of certain public-sector unions–with exemptions for certain public safety unions such as police, fire fighters, and sheriffs deputies being established.https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/related/lcactmemo/act010.pdf Wisconsin Legislative Council Act Memo - 2011 Wisconsin Act 10 May 11, 2011 Wisconsin Legislative Council July 4, 2024 Supporters of the law claimed that the law would help balance the state's budget.Bauer Scott December 2, 2024 Wisconsin unions score win as Dane County judge strikes down Act 10 https://wisconsinwatch.org/2024/12/wisconsin-unions-score-win-as-dane-county-judge-strikes-down-act-10/ February 18, 2025 Wisconsin Watch WMC President Kurt Bauer called Act 10 “a critical tool for policymakers and elected officials to balance budgets and find taxpayer savings. The law also made it more difficult to certify and maintain a public employee union and made it more difficult for unions to collect dues from their members.https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/related/lcactmemo/act010.pdf Wisconsin Legislative Council Act Memo - 2011 Wisconsin Act 10 May 11, 2011 Wisconsin Legislative Council July 4, 2024 The law sparked strong backlash from public employees, especially teachers and students, who staged protests of the legislation across the state. Legislative walkout To prevent passage of the bill, all 14 Democratic members of the Wisconsin State Senate left the state of Wisconsin and traveled to Illinois in order to delay a vote on the bill and deprive the chamber of a quorum to prevent the passage of the bill. Republicans managed to pass the bill anyway the next month, but the fallout from the bill's passage led to the attempted recall of governor Scott Walker and the successful recall of multiple members of the Senate in 2011 and 2012. Due to concerns that Republicans had been attempting to pass the Budget Repair bill without scheduling enough time for public review and debate, Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller led the entire Senate Democratic caucus in fleeing the state to prevent the quorum necessary for a vote on the bill. Voters attempted to put 16 state senators up for recall, eight Democrats and eight Republicans, because of the budget bill proposed by Governor Scott Walker and circumstances surrounding it.Liz Halloran https://www.npr.org/2011/03/08/134340952/recall-efforts-in-wisconsin-face-tough-odds Recall Efforts In Wisconsin Face Tough Odds National Public Radio March 8, 2011 May 23, 2011 Republicans targeted Democrats for leaving the state for three weeks to prevent the bill from receiving a vote, while Democrats targeted Republicans for voting to significantly limit public employee collective bargaining.Tom Tolan http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/120746474.html At least 9 Wisconsin state senators face recall National Public Radio April 26, 2011 May 23, 2011 Scholars could cite only three times in American history when more than one state legislator has been recalled at roughly the same time over the same issue.Craig Gilbert http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/117501513.html Recall drives could make history JSOnline.com March 8, 2011 The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (GAB) certified six recall petitions filed against Republican senatorshttp://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/122863804.html Panel OKs recall elections against 3 more Republicans May 31, 2011 July 26, 2011 Patrick Marley Emma Roller Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and three recall petitions filed against Democratic senators. Democrats needed a net gain of three seats to take control of the Senate. Republicans needed a net gain of one seat to gain a quorum-proof supermajority on fiscal spending.https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704629104576191003890014010 GOP Ends Union Stalemate Wall Street Journal March 10, 2011 July 26, 2011 Douglas Belkin Kris Maherhttps://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2011/02/the-wisconsin-nuclear-option-033556 The Wisconsin Nuclear Option Politico Smith Ben February 21, 2011 July 26, 2011 Of the nine recall elections, Democrats retained all three of their challenged seats; Republicans saw two of their six challenged seats recalled thus they retained their majority in and control of the State Senate, albeit by a slightly narrower margin. More than $35 million was spent on the recall races. The spending on the nine races compares to $19.3 million spent in 2010's 115 legislative races, and approached the $37.4 million spent in the race for governor.Tom Tolan and Patrick Marley http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/127435173.html Republicans take 4 of 6 in recall elections, hold Senate Jsonline.com 2011-08-10 2011-10-05 Campaign Recall petitions Dist.IncumbentRecall petitionMemberPartyFirst electedSignatures requiredGilbert Craig March 3, 2011 Which state senators are vulnerable to recall? https://archive.jsonline.com/blogs/news/117312973.html/ September 13, 2026 Milwaukee Journal SentinelSignatures approved (%)Status02Robert Cowles Rep.1987(special)15,960green 23,959 (150%)Recall held on August 9.08Alberta Darling Rep. 199020,343green 22,243 (109%)Recall held on August 9.10Sheila Harsdorf Rep. 200015,744green 23,685 (150%)Recall held on August 9.12Jim HolperinDem. 200815,960green 19,255 (121%)Recall held on August 16.14Luther OlsenRep. 200414,733green 22,207 (150%)Recall held on August 9.18Randy HopperRep. 200815,269green 22,953 (150%)Recall held on August 9.20Glenn GrothmanRep. 200420,061red 15,000 (75%)Petition failed, Recall not held22Robert WirchDem.199613,537green 17,138 (127%)Recall held on August 16.28Mary LazichRep. 1998 (special)20,973red 18,000 (85%)Petition failed, Recall not held30Dave Hansen Dave Hansen (politician)Dem.200013,852green 15,540 (112%)Recall held on July 19.32Dan KapankeRep.200415,588green 21,776 (140%)Recall held on August 9. 'Placeholder' candidates In all six Democratic-led recall attempts against Republican Senators, the Republican Party organized and supported the nominations of 'placeholder' candidates in the Democratic primaries (called "Fake Democrats" by some). According to the Republican Party of Wisconsin, the purpose of the placeholder candidates was to force Democratic primaries and delay the general election, allowing their incumbent Senators to have additional time to campaign.Fake Democrats face real ones in Wisconsin Senate recall primaries http://www.sheboyganpress.com/article/20110711/SHE0101/107110373/Fake-Democrats-face-real-ones-Wisconsin-Senate-recall-primaries dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110715134552/http://www.sheboyganpress.com/article/20110711/SHE0101/107110373/Fake-Democrats-face-real-ones-Wisconsin-Senate-recall-primaries July 15, 2011 2011-10-05 Robocalls were sent out to 20,000 conservative voters for candidate Isaac Weix in an effort to get Republicans to cross over and vote in the primary.Tom Tolan and Jason Stein 2011-07-13 Voter poll shows discontent; blame for recall cost aired http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/125540863.html 2011-10-05 JSOnline All the placeholder candidates were defeated. The cost to the state was estimated to be more than $475,000.2011-07-13 Democratic chairman calls on GOP to pay for recall primary http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/125496293.html 2011-10-05 JSOnline Recall controversies Later that month, Americans for Prosperity, a conservative group, began sending absentee ballots to Democratic voters in all districts undergoing recall elections,Sargent Greg August 5, 2011 Should the U.S. seek to improve relations with Iran? https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/americans-for-prosperity-sent-misleading-absentee-ballot-far-more-widely-than-previously-known/2011/03/03/gIQAxhcywI_blog.html The Washington Post with instructions to return the ballots to the city clerk before August 11 even though the recall election itself is being held August 9 in those districts.Catanese David 2011-08-01 AFP Wisconsin ballots have late return date - David Catanese https://www.politico.com/blogs/david-catanese/2011/08/afp-wisconsin-ballots-have-late-return-date-037977?showall 2011-10-05 Politico.Com In addition, the voters were instructed to return the ballots to what was claimed to be "the absentee ballot processing center", but was actually a mailing address for conservative group Wisconsin Family Action.Kleefeld Eric 2011-08-01 Koch Group Mails Suspicious Absentee Ballot Letters In Wisconsin http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/08/koch-group-mails-suspicious-absentee-ballot-letters-in-wisconsin.php deviated https://web.archive.org/web/20111012220702/http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/08/koch-group-mails-suspicious-absentee-ballot-letters-in-wisconsin.php 2011-10-12 2024-04-17 Talking Points MemoTotal Recall: Americans For Prosperity sends absentee ballots to Wisconsin Family Action http://dane101.com/current/2011/08/02/total_recall_americans_for_prosperity_sends_absentee_ballots_to_wisconsin_family_ dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130728041930/http://dane101.com/current/2011/08/02/total_recall_americans_for_prosperity_sends_absentee_ballots_to_wisconsin_family_ July 28, 2013 2011-10-05 Dane101 On July 29, the Government Accountability Board criticized a Republican-allied voter ID advocacy group We're Watching Wisconsin Elections,2011-03-25 Student IDs should be OK under voter ID law http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/article_16d3c25a-569d-11e0-93f3-001cc4c03286.html 2011-10-05 Lacrossetribune.com2011-06-09 Election Observer Project http://www.werewatchingwisconsinelections.org/Election-Observer-Project.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120328114246/http://www.werewatchingwisconsinelections.org/Election-Observer-Project.html March 28, 2012 2011-10-05 Werewatchingwisconsinelections.org for publishing reference guides for election observers that featured "numerous significant and factual errors."2011-07-29 Caution Against Reliance on Third-Party Election Information http://gab.wi.gov/node/1992 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110817145154/http://gab.wi.gov/node/1992 2011-08-17 2024-04-17 Wisconsin Government Accountability Board For example, the reference guides stated that student voters using their college ID must present "a tuition receipt with their name and address on it dated within the last 9 months".Basics OF Election Observing http://www.werewatchingwisconsinelections.org/BASICS_OF_ELECTION_OBSERVING_2.pdf 2011-10-05May 2020 InternetArchiveBot yes Wisconsin voter ID law does not actually require such a receipt.2011-05-25 Voter Photo ID Law http://gab.wi.gov/taxonomy/term/135 2011-10-05 Wisconsin Government Accountability Board August 4, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110804194030/http://gab.wi.gov/taxonomy/term/135 dead WI Republican Election Observer Guidelines Contain "numerous significant and factual errors" http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/08/01/1002037/-WI-Republican-Election-Observer-Guidelines-contain-numerous-significant-and-factual-errors 2011-10-05 Aftermath The first general recall election also took place in that month, with Democratic Senator Dave Hansen retaining his seat. Six general elections took place on August 9 resulting in four Republican senators retaining their seats and two being defeated with Republicans keeping a majority in the Wisconsin Senate.http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2011/by_county/WI_Page_0809.html?SITE=WIMIL&SECTION=POLITICS Results of August 9 recall general elections Hosted.ap.org 2011-08-10 2011-10-05 Two Democratic incumbents (Wirch, Holperin) prevailed in their own recall races on August 16, which left Republicans with a net one-vote majority in the Wisconsin Senate.http://gab.wi.gov/calendar Government Accountability Board Calendar Wisconsin Government Accountability Board February 25, 2015 February 15, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150215134011/http://gab.wi.gov/calendar dead Results Summary Close results Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%: blue State Senate district 18, 2.27% (gain) red State Senate district 14, 4.31% red State Senate district 8, 7.31% Race summary Dist.IncumbentThis raceMemberPartyFirst electedStatusGeneral02Robert CowlesRepublican 1987 (special)Incumbent retained* Republican Party (US) Robert Cowles (Rep.) 57.44% Democratic Party (US)Nancy J. Nusbaum (Dem.) 42.43%08Alberta DarlingRepublican 1992Incumbent retained* Republican Party (US) Alberta Darling (Rep.) 53.62% Democratic Party (US)Sandy Pasch (Dem.) 46.31%10Sheila HarsdorfRepublican 2000Incumbent retained* Republican Party (US) Sheila Harsdorf (Rep.) 57.60% Democratic Party (US)Shelly Moore (Dem.) 42.32%12Jim HolperinDemocratic 2008Incumbent retained* Democratic Party (US) Jim Holperin (Dem.) 55.12% Republican Party (US)Kim Simac (Rep.) 44.68%14Luther OlsenRepublican 2004Incumbent retained* Republican Party (US) Luther Olsen (Rep.) 52.10% Democratic Party (US)Fred Clark (Dem.) 47.79%18Randy HopperRepublican 2008Incumbent recalled.New member elected.Democratic gain.* Democratic Party (US) Jessica King (Dem.) 51.10% Republican Party (US)Randy Hopper (Rep.) 48.83%22Robert WirchDemocratic 1996Incumbent retained* Democratic Party (US) Robert Wirch (Dem.) 57.35% Republican Party (US)Jonathan Steitz (Rep.) 42.51% Independent politicianBrian Hardwood (Ind.; write-in) 0.05%30Dave Hansen Dave Hansen (politician)Democratic 2000Incumbent retained* Democratic Party (US) Dave Hansen (Dem.) 65.93% Republican Party (US)David VanderLeest (Rep.) 33.05%32Dan KapankeRepublican 2004Incumbent recalled.New member elected.Democratic gain.* Democratic Party (US) Jennifer Shilling (Dem.) 55.38% Republican Party (US)Dan Kapanke (Rep.) 44.58% Detailed results District 2 Incumbent Republican Robert Cowles ran for re-election. He defeated Democrat Nancy Nusbaum and was retained in office. District 8 Incumbent Republican Alberta Darling ran for re-election. She defeated Democrat Sandy Pasch and was retained in office. On August 1, the Republican Party of Wisconsin filed a complaint with the Government Accountability Board accusing Sandy Pasch's campaign of possible collusion with the group Citizen Action of Wisconsin, of which Pasch is a member of the board of directors.Worthman Sarah 2011-08-01 GOP Files Complaint Over Possible Collusion Between Pasch, Outside Group http://foxpoint.patch.com/articles/gop-files-complaint-over-possible-collusion-between-pasch-and-special-interest-group dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120328112027/http://foxpoint.patch.com/articles/gop-files-complaint-over-possible-collusion-between-pasch-and-special-interest-group March 28, 2012 2011-10-05 Foxpoint.patch.com Pasch claimed she had had no contact with anyone at Citizen Action regarding any political activities.Larry Sandler, Don Walker and Tom Tolan 2011-08-01 Election officials probe voter block parties http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/126558543.html 2011-10-05 Jsonline.com Gillian Morris, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, and Robert Kraig, executive director of Citizen Action both stated that there was no coordination whatsoever between Pasch in the recall election, and Citizen Action.Walker Don 2011-08-01 GOP files complaint into Pasch-Citizen Action tie http://www.jsonline.mobi/126518758.htm dead https://archive.today/20120804064308/http://www.jsonline.mobi/126518758.htm 2012-08-04 2011-10-05 Jsonline.mobi District 10 Incumbent Republican Sheila Harsdorf ran for re-election. She defeated Democrat Shelly Moore and was retained in office. District 12 Incumbent Democrat Jim Holperin ran for re-election. He defeated Republican Kim Simac and was retained in office District 14 Incumbent Republican Luther Olsen ran for re-election. He defeated Democratic state representative Fred Clark by a four-point margin and was retained in office District 18 Incumbent Republican Randy Hopper ran for re-election. He was defeated by Democratic Oshkosh deputy mayor Jessica King by a three-point margin and recalled from office. District 22 Incumbent Democrat Robert Wirch ran for re-election. He defeated Republican Jonathan Steitz by a 15-point margin and was retained in office. District 30 Incumbent Democrat Dave Hansen ran for re-election. He defeated Republican recall organizer David VanderLeest by a wide margin and was retained in office Initially, Republican state representative John Nygren ran to face Hansen in the recall. At the end of the filing period he had filed 424 qualifying voter signatures, but during the signature challenge period, 39 signatures were challenged as not being from the 30th district, and 26 signatures were ruled to be invalid.Antlfinger Carrie June 27, 2011 GAB disqualifies Republican recall candidate for not having enough valid signatures http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/article_5a8c49ec-a0fb-11e0-bbfa-001cc4c03286.html Madison State Journal Associated Press As a result of Nygren's disqualification, VanderLeest was the only Republican candidate to face Hansen. After being disqualified from the ballot, Nygren filed a lawsuit in Dane County Court seeking to overturn the board's decision, but was unsuccessful.June 29, 2011 Some recall uncertainty remains as lawmaker sues to get on ballot http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/article_6d420470-a2b6-11e0-9358-001cc4c002e0.html Wisconsin State Journal Associated PressBeckett Andrew July 1, 2011 Judge rejects Nygren ballot request http://www.wrn.com/2011/07/judge-rejects-nygren-ballot-request/ Wisconsin Radio Network District 32 Incumbent Republican Dan Kapanke ran for re-election. He was defeated by Democratic state representative Jennifer Shilling by a 10-point margin and recalled from office. See also 2011 Wisconsin Act 10 2011 Wisconsin protests 2011 Wisconsin elections 2011 Wisconsin Supreme Court election References Wisconsin 2011 Senate Category:Wisconsin Senate elections Senate recall Category:2011 state legislature elections in the United States Category:July 2011 in the United States Category:August 2011 in the United States