Wisconsin Recall Showdown Decided: Scott Walker to Face Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett

Scott Walker's 2010 opponent gets a rematch, as protester's candidate will face the GOP Lt. Governor.

May 8, 2012

Wisconsin’s June 5 recall election will be a rematch of the 2010 gubernatorial race that installed Governor Scott Walker in office, with voters Tuesday selecting Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett as the Democratic challenger. 

Barrett prevailed over the union’s favored candidate, former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, but most coalitions are rallying behind the nominee – or at least remaining united against Walker. “Tom Barrett is a strong leader who will end the political turmoil Scott Walker has brought to this state and reunite Wisconsin to get us moving forward again,” said Kristen Crowell, executive director of the labor coalition We Are Wisconsin.

Barrett Late To The Game, But Considered Most Likely To Win   READ MORE

The Wisconsin Story: Scott Walker's Unprecedented Assault on Unions and Democracy And the June 5th Recall Vote

Wisconsin's populist rebellion came after state GOP leaders attacked workers' rights and dignity.

March 23, 2012

“The folks that were angry about this started a recall....Not hundreds, not thousands, but tens of thousands of ordinary people did an extraordinary thing. They stood up and took their government back.” -- Gov. Scott Walker, discussing the 2002 recalls that led to his election as Milwaukee County Executive. 

Those words, uttered by Wisconsin Republican Gov. Walker in an ad during his 2010 gubernatorial campaign, are strikingly relevant today. 

In a 60-day period during a cold Wisconsin winter, state residents collected nearly one million signatures for Walker’s recall, with an election date now scheduled for June 5. That election, which will likely be very close and will almost certainly break new records for spending in the state, will end this stage of a year-and-a-half-long battle over Walker’s divisive reforms, including his controversial attack on public employee unions.    READ MORE