Democrats Hold On To Their Seats in Wisconsin Senate Recall Vote

Reuters reports that two Democratic legislators prevailed in Tuesday's recall election in Wisconsin, leaving the Republican advantage at 17-16 in the state Senate.

The Democrats who successfully defended their seats -- Robert Wirch and Jim Holperin -- were among 14 Wisconsin state senators who left the state in an attempt to prevent passage of an anti-union measure earlier this year, Reuters said.

Holperin beat political novice and tea party activist Kim Simac by 54 percent to 46 percent, according to WisPolitics.com. Wirch beat Republican lawyer Jonathan Steitz by 58 percent to 42 percent.

Including last week's Senate recall elections, a total of three Democrats and four Republican incumbents kept their seats, while two Republicans were unseated.

Going forward, Democrats say the Republicans' one-vote edge won't hold because GOP state Sen. Dale Schultz voted against Gov. Scott Walker's curbs on public-sector unions.

"The state Senate as now constituted would not have approved Walker's extreme, divisive assault on the middle class and working people," Wisconsin Democratic Party chief Mike Tate said in a statement.