Republican Governor Scott Walker held onto his executive seat in a bitter, polarizing recall election vote against Milwaukee’s Democratic Mayor Tom Barrett, according to the Associated Press. In 2010, Walker defeated Barrett by five points in the run for Wisconsin governor. After taking office, Walker instituted collective bargaining reforms that ignited massive protests. The Republican governor reportedly became a hero to conservatives across the country for battling public employee unions and slashing Wisconsin’s budget.
“Tonight’s results will echo beyond the borders of Wisconsin. Tonight voters said ‘no’ to the tired, liberal ideas of yesterday, and ‘yes’ to fiscal responsibility and a new direction,” said presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. As the special election approached, money overflowed the state. Republicans raised $30.5 million for Walker, compared to the $3.9 million for Barrett. Republicans outspent Democrats on the airwaves by about a two-to-one margin to win the recall vote.
