Recall Election Day has arrived

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The day that 900,000 Wisconsinites has waited for is finally here. That’s how many people signed the petitions which led to today’s historic recall election against Republican Governor Scott Walker.

It’s only the third such recall vote against a state governor in U.S. history. And Walker is trying to become the first to survive such a contest, just 19 months after he won the job by defeating Democratic Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Today’s vote is a rematch. Over 1.7 million petition signatures were filed for six recall elections. Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch faces state fire-fighters’ union president Mahlon Mitchell in a separate contest. State Senate Republicans Scott Fitzgerald, Van Wanggaard, and Terry Moulton all face challenges from Democrats. And two Assembly members from the Wausau area are squaring off for a Senate seat vacated when recall target Pam Galloway quit in March. Around two-and-a-half million Wisconsin adults, or up to 65-percent of eligible voters, are expected to turn out. The polls are open from seven this morning until eight tonight.

Walker took many Wisconsinites by surprise when he pushed to virtually eliminate collective bargaining for most state-and-local public employee unions. That was the original reason for the recall. But Democrats have since tried to portray it as a referendum on a divisive leadership style, conflicting job numbers, and most recently the John Doe probe into Walker’s former aides when he was the Milwaukee County executive. National groups have said today’s vote is a referendum on union power and women’s rights – and some even call it a preview of this fall’s presidential race. Donors and special interests have pumped an estimated $63-million into the governor’s race – mostly from out-of-state.

Tags: news, wisconsin, politics, government