Governor

• Jim Doyle (D) beats Mark Green (R)

• JB Van Hollen (R) beats Kathleen Falk (D)

• Dawn Sass (D) beats incumbent Jack Voight (R)

• Doug La Follette (D) beats Sandy Sullivan (R)

Legislature

State Senate
The majority in the state Senate switch from Republican to Democrat, 18-15. Three Republican incumbents lost and one open seat in Racine went to the Democrats. All Democrat incumbents were retained.

5th District: (Wauwatosa/West Allis)

• Tom Reynolds (R) (I) 49.4%
• Jim Sullivan (D) 50.6% -- WINNER

• Bill McReynolds (R) 46.9%
• John Lehman (D) 53.1% -- WINNER

• Dave Zien (R) (I) 49.1%
• Pat Kreitlow (D) 50.9% -- WINNER

• Ron Brown (R) (I) 48.3%
• Kathleen Vinehout (D) 51.7% -- WINNER

State Assembly
The Republicans lost seven seats, including five incumbents, with the Democrats retaining all of their incumbents and the one open seat they previously held. Democrats made gains in the state Assembly, but it will remain under Republican hands. Republicans had a 60-39 margin, but at least five Republican incumbents lost - Representatives Mark Pettis, Gabe Loeffelholz, Steve Freese (Assembly Speaker Pro-Tempore), Judy Krawczyk, Robin Kreibich (Chairperson of the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee) and Debi Towns (Chairperson of the Assembly Education Committee). The split in the Assembly is now at 52-47 pending a recount in the Rep. Debi Towns race.

With the change on majority in the State Senate, the loss of certain incumbents in the Assembly and the changing of leadership, there will be a different look to the higher education committees in both houses. Committee assignments will be made after both house have chosen their leadership and polled their members of their committee preferences.

For a complete listing of the election results, please go to:
http://thewheelerreport.com/lxn06/novgeneral/summary.htm

SENATE HOLDS LEADERSHIP ELECTIONS, ASSEMBLY SET FOR TUESDAY
Just two days after the election, the new Senate Majority Democrats chose their leadership. After taking the majority for the first time in four years, the Senate Democrats, which include four freshman members, held elections Thursday. The leadership elected is:

Senate President - Sen. Fred Risser (D-Madison)
Senate President Pro-Tempore- Sen. Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee)
Senate Majority Leader - Sen.Judy Robson (D-Beloit)
Assistant Majority Leader - Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay)
Caucus chair - Sen. Mark Miller (D-Monona)
Vice-caucus chair - Sen. Jeff Plale (D-South Milwaukee)
Caucus Sgt. At Arms - Sen. Spencer Coggs (D- Milwaukee)
Caucus Secretary - Sen. (Elect) Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa)

The Republicans also chose their leadership on Thursday. Their leadership is as follows:

Minority Leader - Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau)
Assistant Minority Leader - Sen. Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan)
Caucus chair - Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend)

The State Assembly majority and minority caucuses are scheduled to select their leadership on Tuesday. The Republicans hold the majority and will be selecting a new slate of leaders including speaker and majority leader.

The current Assembly Majority Leader Rep. Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem) is vying for the speaker post along with current Joint Committee on Finance Co-chair Rep. Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah). It is also reported that Representatives Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Beaver Dam) and Jeff Stone (R-Greenfield) are competing for the position of majority leader. Representatives Mark Gottlieb (R-Port Washington), Sheryl Albers (R-Reedsburg) and Don Friske (R-Merrill) are running for the position of Speaker Pro-Tempore which was long held by Rep. Steve Freese (R-Dodgeville) who lost his re-election bid.

SENATE DEMOCRATS NAME CO-CHAIR OF JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE
In their first action as a majority party in the Senate, Sen. Judy Robson (D-Beloit) has named Sen. Russ Decker (D-Schofield) as the co-chair of the budget-writing Joint Committee on Finance. The rest of the membership is expected to be named by December. The majority party fills six of the eight seats on the committee in each house, with the minority naming two. With each house under different part control, the committee will be split with eight from each side.

For more information on state related issues contact,
Kristi Thorson or Don Nelson
Assistant Director, State Relations
608/262-8967