Following a trend that swept the nation, Wisconsin Democrats scored several major victories at the polls on Tuesday, keeping the governor's mansion and winning a majority in the state Senate. Republican J.B. Van Hollen, however, defeated Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, who was bidding to succeed incumbent Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager. Falk defeated Lautenschlager in the September primary after being urged to run by Doyle.

The picture was also clear in two controversial referendum issues. The public voted overwhelmingly in favor of a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and favored an advisory referendum for the reinstatement of the death penalty in Wisconsin for the first time in more than 150 years.

Gov. Jim Doyle easily won reelection over Republican challenger Mark Green, by an unofficial total of 53.8 percent to 44.3 percent.

Doyle led the entire evening, including winning a victory in Green's home of Brown County.

In his victory speech in Madison, Doyle noted that the bellicose campaign "sometimes got a little bit more heated than any of us wanted. But now it's time to come together."

Doyle added, "We have honest differences but w all love Wisconsin. We can do much in this state if we work together."

The governor said that despite inheriting a $3.2 billion deficit when elected, "even in the deepest, darkest days of that fiscal crisis, we never, ever abandoned Wisconsin's values."

Doyle, who is the first Democratic governor to win reelection since former Gov. Pat Lucey 32 years ago, has yet to lose an election of any kind.

In his concession speech in Green Bay, at about 11 p.m., Green said he realized he was "a long shot" against an incumbent Democrat in a year "that we all know was a challenging year for Republicans in many ways."

Green added, "We were taking on a governor with lots of money who spent much more money than we had to spend. And sometimes I felt like I was not only running against the governor but against the very organs of government, including the (state) Elections Board itself, which all too often seemed to be stacked against us."

Green was referring to the board's decision not to allow him to use nearly $500,000 in funds he had raised in his congressional coffers.

Attorney general

While Doyle was winning across most of the state, if by smaller than predicted margins, fellow democrat Falk didn't fare quite as well. She fell short of her bid to become the state's top law enforcement official.

Falk, 55, Madison, has served as the Dane County leader for the past 10 years but was with the state Department of Justice for 14 years as a public intervener, from 1983 to 1997.

Van Hollen, 40, of Wanaukee, most recently served as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, being appointed by President George W. Bush in 2002. Before that, he served as Bayfield County district attorney from 1999-2002 and as Ashland County district attorney from 1993-'99.

On a secondary level, the attorney general race also pitted long-time rivals Doyle and former Gov. Tommy Thompson. Doyle urged Falk to take on Lautenschlager for the office he held until being elected governor in 2002, defeating Falk among others in the primary.

Thompson favored Van Hollen over primary opponent Paul Bucher and actively campaigned for Van Hollen, including making a recorded phone message for him -- and for Green -- that was sent to voters in the past week.

Perhaps the main theme of the election for both candidates was experience. Each candidate claimed their experience made them better suited for the position.

The 'ayes' have it

Many voters were drawn to the polls because of two controversial ballot referendums.

Those going to the polls overwhelmingly voted for a constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage and any kind of union relatively similar to it.

The unofficial tally was 58.3 percent for the ban and 41.7 percent against the constitutional change. Wisconsin joined 20 other states in the U.S. who have passed similar bans.

Seven other states had the issue on their ballot Tuesday and both sides claimed voters might have been confused by the ballot wording.

Voters had to check off "yes" if they were for the ban and against same sex unions while opponents had to check off "no" if they favored same sex marriage.

"This is counter to Wisconsin's progressive tradition, so I am disappointed," said U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, an avowed lesbian. "But maybe some day we can try again."

The proponents of the ban may have also been aided by the decision by a court in New Jersey last week, ordering the state to pass legislation allowing for same sex marriage.

The death penalty referendum issue also passed easily, by a 54.6 percent to 45.4 percent tally. But unlike the same sex marriage amendment, which is binding, the death penalty referendum is merely advisory. It will still take action by the state Legislature and the governor's approval to become law.

That referendum added that the penalty should only be imposed if the person involved "is convicted of first-degree homicide" and "the conviction is supported by DNA evidence."

Another interesting election note is that all 10 of the referendums to "bring the troops home" from Iraq won.

Legislative votes

It appeared that the Democrats won the majority in the state Senate and cut their deficit in the Assembly.

Republicans held a 19-14 majority in the state Senate and Democrats needed to pick up three of four hotly contested seats in Racine, West Allis, and two in the Eau Claire area. Early this morning, they appeared to have won the races in Racine, with state rep. John Lehman edging Racine County executive Bill McReynolds and in District 5, where Wauwatosa Ald. Jim Sullivan beat state Sen. Tom Reynolds, R-West Allis. Democrats also were strong in Eau Claire, with Democrat Pat Kreitlow beating incumbent state Sen. Dave Zien, R-Eau Claire, and Kathleen Vinehout edging incumbent state Sen. Ron Brown, R-Eau Claire.

Congress is similarly skewed

On the U.S. Congressional side, incumbent republicans Paul Ryan of Janesville, and F. James Sensenbrenner, Menomonee Falls, won reelection while Democrats Baldwin, Madison, Gwen Moore, Milwaukee, Tom Petri, Fond du Lac, and David Obey all won reelection.

In the Eighth Congressional District vacated by Green, Democrat Steve Kagen defeated John Gard, the Republican state Assembly Speaker. Kagen's victory came despite Gard benefiting from visits by Laura Bush.

On the national level, Democrats picked up more than the 15 seats they needed to take control of that body. That will mean Obey becomes chair of the House Appropriations Committee, which could help bring more federal funds to Wisconsin, one of the states receiving the least in funds from Washington, D.C.

Democratic U.S Senator Herb Kohl, D-Milwaukee, also won reelection easily.

There are always the possibilities for recounts in tight races and all results are unofficial until certified by the respective boards of canvassers.

- Dennis A. Shook is an award-winning reporter who has covered state and national politics for various print, broadcast, and Internet outlets for more than 30 years. He also is employed as an aide to state Sen. Robert Wirch, D-Kenosha.

33 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by OMCreader on Nov. 14, 2006 at 11:45 a.m. (report)

Jon D. said: Julie, if your arguement is true, then nobody needs to get married or or form a recognized civil union. All they need to do is commit to each other and hire an attorney. It would probably be cheaper in the long run to do things this way. The drawbacks would be that you have to file your taxes separately, have separate health insurance plans, not have joint custody in cases of adoption (I don't even want to argue about same sex coulpes raising children at this point). Why did you get married? I did it because there is something special to having your love and companionship be part of public record. Why do you want to deny this to people who cause you no harm? By the way, if you are right about an afterlife, I will happily wander the earth as a lost soul (I love to travel). But if I'm right, I will have all those Sunday mornings where I got to sleep in late.

Posted by OMCreader on Nov. 14, 2006 at 7:30 a.m. (report)

Julie said: Jon, there are already legal ways for homosexuals to protect themselves. It's the same way ANY smart person would; be it straight, gay, single, whatever. With a Durable Power Of Attorney you decide who you want to handle your financial affairs, banking, insurance,ect. A Durable Power Of Attorney for Health Care allows you to name whomever you wish to make any or all of your medical decisions if you are not able to. You do not need to be married for it to be legal. I had both a DOPA and a DOPAHC for my dad, and we obviously were not married. Life insurance will provide for the future of the loved one left behind. this is something that is available to everyone. If a couple is that committed to eachother, then that is the smartest thing to do; gay or straight. Most married people do that already. FYI, I do not belong to any church, or specific religion. I live my life on the very simple principles found in the Holy Bible. The Bible is very clear to anyone who takes the time to read it. God does not dwell in a church, He dwells in the hearts of all those who believe. You can change laws, the constitution, whatever; because that is man's word. God's word never changes. At least with Him you know where you stand. I sit in judgement of no one, that's His job. I do have one question for you though. If I am wrong, and there is no God, I will have lost nothing; will you be able to say the same thing though if I am right?

Posted by OMCreader on Nov. 13, 2006 at 7:35 p.m. (report)

Lorelei said: I don't think Julie read the parts of the Bible that say "Judge not lest ye be judged" and "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." I feel it is not my place to judge others' morality, since I'm certainly not perfect and I'm sure there are things I do that others don't approve of. If Julie wants to pull up our country's founders, then she should also realize that, at that time, women and non-Caucasians basically had NO rights. Should we go back to those times? Live and let live, I say.

Posted by OMCreader on Nov. 13, 2006 at 6:15 p.m. (report)

Cozen Beguile said: Jon D.- Well said! I don't think marriage was defined by the church, but the church HAS redefined the meaning. Marriage has different meanings to different people and cultures. Marriage before the faiths stole it was the combining of property. Marraige came before the Christian faith! PEACE!

Posted by OMCreader on Nov. 13, 2006 at 6:08 p.m. (report)

Cozen Beguile said: Julie- Did Pharaoh charge Moses with murder, before or after he recieved the Commandments? There never was a society that had laws against stealing, before the Commandments? No one can be that naive! PEACE!