# Bellweather Wisconsin Supreme Court election on Tuesday **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 3, 2011, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997 "2011-04-03T01:38:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2011, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997/41 "2011-04-06T20:32:20Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Walker’s claiming this vote shouldn’t be seen as a referendum on his agenda. In the February primary (there was only one because the race is officially non-partisan) Prosser got more than double the votes Kloppenburg did. If ever there was a referendum without it being an official referendum, this was it. Yes, 20% of Wisconsin just suddenly decided they liked Kloppenberg better. A miracle, considering that right before all of the FitzWalker shenanigans started, no one knew who the hell she was. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2011, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997/42 "2011-04-06T20:33:26Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Walker’s claiming this vote shouldn’t be seen as a referendum on his agenda. In the February primary (there was only one because the race is officially non-partisan) Prosser got more than double the votes Kloppenburg did. If ever there was a referendum without it being an official referendum, this was it. How many candidates were in the primary? ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2011, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997/43 "2011-04-06T20:36:42Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > How many candidates were in the primary? Four. The results were: 55%, 25%, 11%, 9%. > **[David Prosser Jr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Prosser,_Jr.#Electoral_History)** > > David Thomas Prosser Jr. (December 24, 1942 – December 1, 2024) was an American lawyer, jurist, and Republican politician from Appleton, Wisconsin. He was a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court from 1998 until his retirement in 2016. Prior to joining the court, he served as the 72nd speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly, during the 1995–1996 term, after serving in the Assembly since 1979. Prior to becoming speaker, he led the Republican Assembly caucus for three terms as minority leader... ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997/44 "2011-04-06T20:37:57Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > How many candidates were in the primary? There were [four](http://judgepedia.org/index.php/Wisconsin_judicial_elections,_2011) (Supreme Court is the first post-introduction section). Prosser received 54.7%, Kloppenburg 25.2%. The other two candidates got 20% between them. Since Wisconsin’s Supreme Court elections are supposed to be non-partisan, the two candidates with the most votes go to the actual election. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997/45 "2011-04-07T01:52:12Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Walker’s claiming this vote shouldn’t be seen as a referendum on his agenda. In the February primary (there was only one because the race is officially non-partisan) Prosser got more than double the votes Kloppenburg did. If ever there was a referendum without it being an official referendum, this was it. Democrats also won in many other races yesterday, including winning Walkers old job. Possibly even more scary for the Wisconsin GOP is that Kloppenburg won big in many of the districts that Republican legislators won in last Fall’s election by only very small numbers. Indicating that Democrats will have a good chance at taking those seats back in the 2012 election, if the mood is similar and they can get their voters to turn out (that they managed to do so in a Special Election is a good sign for them). Or maybe even sooner than 2012, if they get enough signatures on Recall petitions. (I’d think this election result would really energize Democratic petition gatherers.) ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997/46 "2011-04-07T02:55:58Z")
It may be that Walker’s anti-union bill won’t even get to the court. I haven’t heard any claims that the law, on its face, is unconstitutional – though odds are someone will figure an angle to challenge it. What will almost certainly end up at the WI Supreme Court is whether the vote to pass it violated WI open meeting laws. And even it it is found to have violated that law, the legislature can vote again on the same law, word for word, and pass it again. They still have the numbers to do so. But if that happens, the Republicans will have a much starker image of the personal cost of their vote, in the currency of electoral politics. I think it will be an interesting morality play we see over the next months if this this scenario plays out. If they really believe their earlier rhetoric – this is crucial for the well being of the state – they will repeat their vote, pass the bill and face recall elections. If they are electoral whores, they will change their votes and the 2nd attempt to pass the bill will fail. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997/47 "2011-04-07T03:17:35Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Walker’s claiming this vote shouldn’t be seen as a referendum on his agenda. In the February primary (there was only one because the race is officially non-partisan) Prosser got more than double the votes Kloppenburg did. If ever there was a referendum without it being an official referendum, this was it. This is not unexpected (at least by me). It was pointed out MANY times that the Tea Party had unreasonable expectations. “No tax increase. (Oh, and no cuts to programs that are important to me).” The problem being that the parenthetical meant different things to different people. Rick Scott here in Florida is also suffering from teabagger’s remorse… ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997/48 "2011-04-07T14:26:09Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > What will almost certainly end up at the WI Supreme Court is whether the vote to pass it violated WI open meeting laws. And even it it is found to have violated that law, the legislature can vote again on the same law, word for word, and pass it again. They still have the numbers to do so. They have enough Republicans. Whether they have enough Republicans who are willing to risk the political fallout now that Walker’s strategery isn’t turning out as they hoped remains to be seen. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997/49 "2011-04-07T18:07:31Z")
Prosser lost but it is close enough for a recount. The internets assays 19 counties that went Repub last time flipped Dem. Walkers old spot was lost to a Dem. That is not a resounding boost for Walkers policies. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997/50 "2011-04-07T20:01:33Z")
Quoth **pkbites** : > [@](#): > > I don’t agree. I think the true enemy of the progressives are free citizens that think for themselves and realize the insanity of your agenda. And I believe progressives are actually aware of this truth. Thus explaining why one significant group of anti-progressives refer to themselves as “dittoheads”. Oh, no, wait, it doesn’t. The whole reason why progressives struggle as much as we do is that we _are_ the free-thinkers, which unfortunately makes us really hard to organize. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997/51 "2011-04-07T20:04:41Z")
I don’t see how pkbites can really argue with elucidator’s point if higher turnout nearly always favors the Democratic Party. Doesn’t it? I’ve been of that impression. If it does, elucidator is correct that apathy is a problem for the Democrats. It has nothing to do with who is ideologically more correct. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997/52 "2011-04-07T22:16:34Z")
News is that more than 14,000 unaccounted votes have now been recorded after an error was corrected in Waukesha County. With these, Prosser is up by about 7,000 votes. This might take a recount off of the table. The canvass should determine that. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997/53 "2011-04-07T23:36:18Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > News is that more than 14,000 unaccounted votes have now been recorded after an error was corrected in Waukesha County. With these, Prosser is up by about 7,000 votes. > > This might take a recount off of the table. The canvass should determine that. [http://www.jsonline.com/news/waukesha/119424759.html](http://www.jsonline.com/news/waukesha/119424759.html) I love it!! Not only is it sweet that Prosser might have snatched victory away from them, but the hysterics the left will go into will be a grand ball to watch. My son has some luncheon he’s catering tomorrow (mostly teachers in attendance). He was already annoyed by their yammering. Listening to how they bitch tomorrow should truly test his patience. This is absolutely precious! ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997/54 "2011-04-07T23:58:44Z")
Such a swing will probably seal the election for Prosser. Even if he squeaks this out, his sharp decline since the primary should give pause to the Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997/55 "2011-04-08T02:09:12Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > [http://www.jsonline.com/news/waukesha/119424759.html](http://www.jsonline.com/news/waukesha/119424759.html) > > I love it!! Not only is it sweet that Prosser might have snatched victory away from them, but the hysterics the left will go into will be a grand ball to watch. > > My son has some luncheon he’s catering tomorrow (mostly teachers in attendance). He was already annoyed by their yammering. Listening to how they bitch tomorrow should truly test his patience. > This is absolutely precious! Way to have that moral high ground, dude. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997/56 "2011-04-08T05:08:58Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Such a swing will probably seal the election for Prosser. Even if he squeaks this out, his sharp decline since the primary should give pause to the Republicans. Unfortunately, not a chance, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997/57 "2011-04-08T13:33:07Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > News is that more than 14,000 unaccounted votes have now been recorded after an error was corrected in Waukesha County. With these, Prosser is up by about 7,000 votes. > > This might take a recount off of the table. The canvass should determine that. Prosser got 75% of the votes in Waukesha County? That’s not impossible, but it’s surprising given how tight the race was otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997/58 "2011-04-08T14:17:16Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Prosser got 75% of the votes in Waukesha County? That’s not impossible, but it’s surprising given how tight the race was otherwise. Apparently it’s a heavily Republican area. I think DC went 92% for Obama, not remotely reflective of the rest of the country. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997/59 "2011-04-08T14:54:55Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Prosser got 75% of the votes in Waukesha County? That’s not impossible, but it’s surprising given how tight the race was otherwise. Waukesha is an extremely reliable Republican county. In 2008 62.5% voted for McCain while the rest of the state went for Obama by almost 57%. Washington County (where I’m from, originally) is even more so, having voted over 64% for the Republican candidate in 2008. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997/60 "2011-04-08T15:29:41Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I don’t see how pkbites can really argue with elucidator’s point if higher turnout nearly always favors the Democratic Party. Doesn’t it? I’ve been of that impression. You’re forgetting the Silent Majority. Who are also weightless and invisible. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bellweather-wisconsin-supreme-court-election-on-tuesday/576997.md?page=4)