Democrats flipped control of the state Assembly on Tuesday, taking the majority for only the second time in the past 32 years as they won all eight of their targeted seats.
Republicans went into the session with a 54-45 majority and five members who represented districts where Kamala Harris took more votes than Donald Trump.
Dems declared victory in all five of those districts along with three GOP-held seats that were considered second-tier races when the cycle began: Shannon Zimmerman, of River Falls; Pat Snyder, of Weston; and Clint Moses, of Menomonie.
That meant a total of 53 seats.
The wins gave Dems their first majority in the chamber since the 2009-10 session, the only two-year period they’ve been in the majority since losing it to Republicans in the 1994 GOP wave.
Dem leader Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, called it a “historic night.”
“We know that people will be counting on us to deliver, and we will deliver,” she said. “Alongside Governor David Crowley and our Democratic colleagues in the Senate, we will show that government can be a force for good and that things can be different with democrats in charge.”
Outgoing Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, congratulated Dems on winning a trifecta between flipping both chambers of the Legislature and holding onto the governor’s office.
In a post on social media, Vos said Republicans will spend the next two years protecting Wisconsin’s strengths: its workforce, communities and “tradition of common-sense governance.” They will also prepare for “the moment when voters again choose balance and results over one-party control.”
“The next two years will test our resolve,” Vos wrote. “They will also clarify the choice ahead. We are ready for both.”
According to AP calls:
*Oak Creek mayor Dan Bukiewicz, a Democrat, bested Republican Dylan Pfaffenbach in the 21st AD. Bukiewicz led 60.1% to 39.9%, with 84% of the vote counted.
*Democrat Kevin Knoke of Hudson is set to unseat Rep. Shannon Zimmerman, R-River Falls, in western Wisconsin’s 30th AD. Knoke led Zimmerman 53% to 47%, with 99% of votes counted.
*Dem game warden Ben Gruber defeated Rep. Todd Novak, R-Dodgeville, 55% to 43.4%. Third-party candidate Nathan Tataje picked up 1.6% of the vote.
*Dem Becky Nichols, a Menasha public school teacher, defeated Republican small business owner David Daniels in the 53rd AD, 54.7% to 39% of the vote with 98% of votes counted. Independent Rachael Dowling picked up 6.3% of the vote.
*Dem Army veteran Ben Brist of Greendale unseated Rep. Bob Donovan, R-Greenfield, winning 55.6% to 44.4% with 88% of the vote counted.
*Wausau County Supv. John Kroll, a Dem, defeated Rep. Patrick Snyder, R-Weston, 54.1% to 45.9%, with 99% of the vote counted.
*Dem school board treasurer Brandy Tollefson of De Pere defeated Rep. Ben Franklin, R-De Pere, 54.3% to 45.7%, with 99% of votes counted.
*Rep. Ryan Spaude, D-Ashwaubenon, warded off retired police officer Bobby Lindsey, a Republican, 56.5% to 43.5%, with 99% of votes counted.
*Dem Jeremiah Fredrickson, the Elm Mound owner of Jeremiah’s Bullfrog Fish Farm, beat Rep. Clint Moses, R-Menomonie, with 53.4% to 46.6% with 99% of precincts in.
*Rep. Steve Doyle, D-Onalaska, bested GOP challenger Keith Purnell, of Holmen, 56.7% to 43.3%, with 99% of votes counted.