Wisconsin Democrats
submitted over one million signatures on petitions to recall Republican Governor
Scott Walker today. Walker is infamous for sparking an intense partisan divide in Wisconsin by using a narrow Republican legislative majority to end collective bargaining rights for public employees in the state.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports:
It would mark the first such gubernatorial recall in state history and would be only the third gubernatorial recall election in U.S. history. Organizers Tuesday also handed in 845,000 signatures against Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch as well as petitions against four GOP state senators including Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau.
The sheer number of signatures being filed against Walker - nearly as many as the total votes cast for the governor in November 2010 and almost twice as many as those needed to trigger a recall election - ensure the election will be held, said officials with the state Democratic Party and United Wisconsin, the group that launched the Walker recall.
"It is beyond legal challenge," said Ryan Lawler, vice chairman of United Wisconsin.
The filing marks a milestone following Walker's controversial legislation ending most union bargaining for public workers. But Democrats have challenges before them to winning a recall election, including Walker's substantial fundraising and their lack of a candidate.
In addition, there were recall petitions filed for four Republican state senators. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, Pam Galloway, Terry Moulton and Van Wanggaard. Last year there were 9 recall elections held in Wisconsin, 6 against Republicans and 3 against Democrats. The results were 5 wins by Democrats and 4 by Republicans ending up in changing the Wisconsin State Senate from 19-14 to 17-16.
