With 204 Vote Margin, Kloppenburg Claims Victory In Wisconsin Supreme Court Race

There’s going to be a recount, but JoAnne Kloppenburg is claiming victory over David Prosser in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race:

In a statement, Kloppenburg said:

“We owe Justice Prosser our gratitude for his more than 30 years of public service. Wisconsin voters have spoken and I am grateful for, and humbled by, their confidence and trust. I will be independent and impartial and I will decide cases based on the facts and the law. As I have traveled the State, people tell me they believe partisan politics do not belong in our Courts.  I look forward to bringing new blood to the Supreme Court and focusing my energy on the important work Wisconsin residents elect Supreme Court justices to do.”

The Associated Press results page now shows all precincts in and the totals are as follows:

  • Joanne Kloppenburg — 740,090 votes (50.007%)
  • David Prosser — 739,886 (49.993%)

It’s unclear if this includes the absentee ballots, but right now that’s a 204 vote margin, or 0.014% of the total votes cast.

FILED UNDER: US Politics, , ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. Michael says:

    Doug this is a long, long way from being over.

  2. I know that, but it’s very rare that a recount results in a lead change even when the numbers are this close.

  3. Neil Hudelson says:

    Voter Fraud! Stealing the election! Union thugs!

    Got that out of the way. First!

  4. G.A.Phillips says:

    Voter Fraud! Stealing the election! Union thugs!

    +

    Big abortion money, neo marxist union mob boss money(i.e. union drone sucker money) from all over the country, and dumb sheep/donkey like people. And Milwaukee sucks!!!!

  5. Derrick says:

    Voter Fraud! Stealing the election! Union thugs!

    Got that out of the way. First!

    I ventured into the cesspool that is Althouse’s comment section today because she seems to be the lead blogger on all things pro-Walker. The whining and victimology started when Prosser was still in the lead last night. A large bloc of the Republican party literally will not accept a result that counters from one that they want. They just can’t…..just can’t believe that someone might vote differently without wild-eyed conspiracy theories about fraud.

  6. Neil Hudelson says:

    Well done G.A. Obviously my list of crazy screeds wasn’t exhaustive. Your additions to the list of tired complaints will be noted and included next time.

  7. jwest says:

    Derrick,

    Maybe those folks at Althouse are curious as to how every close election seems to be decided by the results from late-reporting (democrat) precincts, or from votes found in the trunks of cars that just happen to always be for the “D” candidate.

    Those sure are suspicious people, aren’t they?

  8. Moosebreath says:

    Can you explain how the percentages are both above 50%? That would mean that they combined for more than 100% of the total votes. I know Wisconsin’s not far from Lake Wobegon, and there all students are above average, but I’m not sure if that applies here.

  9. Axel Edgren says:

    “Maybe those folks at Althouse are curious as to how every close election seems to be decided by the results from late-reporting (democrat) precincts, or from votes found in the trunks of cars that just happen to always be for the “D” candidate.”

    YOUR WORDS ARE DELICIOUS.

    Also,

    “Big abortion money, neo marxist union mob boss money(i.e. union drone sucker money) from all over the country, and dumb sheep/donkey like people. And Milwaukee sucks!!!!”

    MORE OF THIS! I BEG!

  10. dumb sheep/donkey like people

    Isn’t a donkey-like person normally the exact opposite of a sheep-like person? Stubborn and obstinate vs. compliant and easily controlled?

  11. G.A.Phillips says:

    Well done G.A. Obviously my list of crazy screeds wasn’t exhaustive. Your additions to the list of tired complaints will be noted and included next time.

    I help where I can:)

    MORE OF THIS! I BEG!

    I am sure they are doing it elsewhere, 2012 is gonna be a hoot for those who love corruption,mob and mobster tactics, fraud and Marxism.

  12. Axel Edgren says:

    Vox populi agrees with republicans: “Salt-of-the-earth hard-working and wonderful people speaking up against Big Gubbyment!”

    Vox populi disappoints republicans: “EFFING SHEEPLE MORON SCUM ENJOY YOUR FISCAL COLLAPSE LIMIT THE SUFFRAGE (HUFF… *Sniffle*)”

  13. Axel Edgren says:

    “I am sure they are doing it elsewhere, 2012 is gonna be a hoot for those who love corruption,mob and mobster tactics, fraud and Marxism.”

    Not whiny, passive-aggressive and impotent enough. You killed my buzz man.

  14. G.A.Phillips says:

    lol…..

  15. Moosebreath,

    Yea, that was me getting the math wrong and not realizing that it didn’t make sense. I fixed it.

    In my defense, lawyers typically suck at math

  16. Axel Edgren says:

    Three dots to make an ellipse, G.A.

  17. Vast Variety says:

    “And Milwaukee sucks!!!!”

    Kind of like the old Yakov Smirnoff joke.

    “Living in Russia is like being in the middle of Milwaukee and no matter how far you drive in any direction you’re still in the middle of Milwaukee.”

  18. Scott says:
  19. legion says:

    I’m just wondering WTF “Big abortion money” is… please GA – enlighten us. Is George Soros cornering the wire-hanger industry? Or just funding innumerable drunken frat parties?

    TURN THE CRAZY TO 11!11!!!!!!

  20. MM says:

    I ventured into the cesspool that is Althouse’s comment section today because she seems to be the lead blogger on all things pro-Walker. The whining and victimology started when Prosser was still in the lead last night. A large bloc of the Republican party literally will not accept a result that counters from one that they want. They just can’t…..just can’t believe that someone might vote differently without wild-eyed conspiracy theories about fraud.

    I was reading the comments at Hot Air as the results came in last night. As the lead jumped back and forth it was fun reading whether Wisconsin voters were brilliant for shrugging off the union agenda, or should be shot to death for being Marxist sheeple.

  21. G.A.Phillips says:

    Isn’t a donkey-like person normally the exact opposite of a sheep-like person? Stubborn and obstinate vs. compliant and easily controlled?

    Should I have typed jackass? You can also be stubborn in your sheepishness.

    Three dots to make an ellipse, G.A.

    What ever……..

    I’m just wondering WTF “Big abortion money”

    damn man, can’t you think for yourself at all?

  22. PopeRatzo says:

    This wasn’t supposed to happen. Supreme Court incumbents in Wisconsin are supposed to win.

    And it wasn’t just the Supreme Court race that Democrats won. The Dems took down-ballet elections all over the place.

    This is a really great victory for Wisconsin, and a very good sign for the recalls. With luck, Wisconsin will again become a solid blue state.

  23. G.A.Phillips says:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riSJcZC89Hc&feature=channel_video_title

    lol…………

    No I prefer to burn crap like this->

    On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.

  24. G.A.Phillips says:

    This is a really great victory for Wisconsin, and a very good sign for the recalls. With luck, Wisconsin will again become a solid blue state.

    Ya its just great, if your a union thug, welfare addict or an idiot Marxist teacher. Not so much for the rest of us.

  25. legion says:

    damn man, can’t you think for yourself at all?

    I can think. That’s why I don’t understand you.

    Ya its just great, if your a union thug, welfare addict or an idiot Marxist teacher. Not so much for the rest of us.

    Do you make over $250k per year? If you don’t, the Republicans will be just as happy to watch you die in a gutter as they would anyone else in the “little people” class (and I ain’t talkin’ Leprechauns), regardless of whether you voted ‘D’ or ‘R’ in the last election.

  26. Dustin says:

    Maybe those folks at Althouse are curious as to how every close election seems to be decided by the results from late-reporting (democrat) precincts, or from votes found in the trunks of cars that just happen to always be for the “D” candidate.

    You have absolutely no understanding of how things actually played out Tuesday night, into Wednesday morning.

    The lead swung, by drastic margins all night long. Heading into the very late night, early morning Prosser actually trailed by about 2,000 votes, but slowly chipped away at that as late reporting districts came in.

    And tonight, Republicans in Wisconsin are excited because supposedly 500-600 votes showed up in the most Republican county in the state, which went for Prosser 3/4.

  27. Murray says:

    @Doug

    “In my defense, lawyers typically suck at math”

    That admission will seriously undermine your credibility in the matters of economics.

  28. I’m surprised no one has taken the opportunity to state that now, this Supreme Court judge will be beholden to the voters of her state to not even take into account the legal questions in the bill that effectively put her onto the Court. To do otherwise – even if it’s the legally proper thing to do – would go against all natural survival instincts.

    The Judicial Branch should NEVER, EVER EVER be put to a popular vote. Leave the pitchfork-and-torch crowd to the other branches.

  29. Tlaloc says:

    I think it’s interesting to compare and contrast the statements by Kloppenburg with the one by Wqlker (has Prosser released a statement? I haven’t seen it). Kloppenburg is declaring victory in a close election possibly prematurely but she starts off by thanking her opponent and doesn’t say anything bad about him or his supporters. Meanwhile Walker castigates the people of Madison and Milwaukee.

  30. wr says:

    I thought Walker was the governor of the entire state, but apparently he hates the two largest cities and doesn’t consider them part of the “real” Wisconsin. That’s one hell of a political platform, let alone an approach towards governance.

  31. Barry says:

    Christopher Bowen says:

    “I’m surprised no one has taken the opportunity to state that now, this Supreme Court judge will be beholden to the voters of her state to not even take into account the legal questions in the bill that effectively put her onto the Court. To do otherwise – even if it’s the legally proper thing to do – would go against all natural survival instincts.”

    That’s odd, because I didn’t see to many right-wingers saying this *before* this election.

  32. Rick Almeida says:

    I’m surprised no one has taken the opportunity to state that now, this Supreme Court judge will be beholden to the voters of her state to not even take into account the legal questions in the bill that effectively put her onto the Court. To do otherwise – even if it’s the legally proper thing to do – would go against all natural survival instincts.

    The Judicial Branch should NEVER, EVER EVER be put to a popular vote. Leave the pitchfork-and-torch crowd to the other branches.

    I am as opposed to judicial elections as Mr. Bowen.

    That said, my understanding is that WI SC judges are elected to 10-year terms, which probably insulates the judge from the outcome of this case.