Democrat Wins As Milwaukee County Exec In Rebuke To Walker; Court Battle Too Close To Call

Democrat Chris Abele beat Republican Jeff Stone in the race for Milwaukee County Executive, a post formerly held by increasingly unpopular Governor Scott Walker.

That race was seen by some as a referendum on Gov. Scott Walker, who previously held the post, and his controversial budget plan to eliminate most collective bargaining privileges from public employees in the state. Although it is a nonpartisan race, Abele was considered the liberal candidate by many and Republican Stone was the conservative who pledged to govern with a similar approach to Walker.

Acknowledging the public employee collective bargaining cotroversy in the state, Stone said his defeat came in “an unusual environment,” that “reflects the divide we have right now in Wisconsin.”

Abele was elected in a special session to serve out the final year of Walker’s term. Hepromised to take a new approach to leading Milwaukee County.

And with 99% of the votes counted, in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race between incumbent conservative Judge David Prosser and liberal assistant state Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg, the candidates are fewer than 600 votes apart, making a recount likely.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.