The balance of power will soon be shifting as Democratic state Senate candidate John Lehman declares victory over incumbent Van Wanggaard. With four Senate races in the recall Tuesday, Democrats needed only one victory gain control of the chamber.
Republicans still hold a majority in the Assembly and Lehman believes the public will benefit from the change.
AUDIO: Lehman on power change (:18)
Totals from the Racine-area district came later than any race Tuesday. Prior to the completed numbers, Wanggaard thanked all the people who worked for his campaign before going home for the night.
AUDIO: Wanggaard thanking supporters (:12)
Lehman’s victory with 51 percent amounted to 779 votes out of almost 72,000 cast.
With such a slim margin there is some buzz about a potential recount. The Wanggaard camp would have to pay for it itself because the margin of defeat was just under 1.1 percent – almost twice as much as the threshold required for a tax-funded recount.
Republicans in the other three Senate recall races emerged victorious.
WRJN’s Tom Karkow and Janet Hoff contributed to this report