Fall election season kicks off

WLUK TV

Updated: Apr 16, 2012 6:07 PM

The calendar says spring, but it's the start of the fall election season in Wisconsin.

The first official day to circulate nomination petitions was Sunday. This year all 99 state Assembly seats are up for grabs, as well as 16 state Senate seats.

There will be races for all U.S. House seats, and the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Herb Kohl will also be on the ballot.

The outcome of the statewide elections could set the agenda in Madison for the next two years.

Area Democrats and Republicans say recall fever has people fired up. They say the energy has made their bases also excited for the general elections coming up in November.

"I think people are starting to realize that with all the things that are going on in Wisconsin and around the state and around the county that elections matter," said Bob Kiefert with the Brown County Democrats.

"I think that enthusiasm from one election will power over into the other elections," said Ron Tusler, with the Outagamie County Republicans.

Sixteen Senate seats are up for grabs in Wisconsin this November. Democrats currently hold 10. Republicans currently hold six of those seats.

Currently, the balance of power is split evenly at 16-16. There's one vacant seat. Republican State Sen. Pam Galloway of Wausau resigned. Hers was one of four seats up for recall this spring.

If those four Republican senators lose their seats, the balance of power could shift to the Democrats. But if Republicans then do well in November, that shift in power could be short-lived.

Democrats say taking the state Senate is crucial to regaining power.

"I think it's possible, if not probable in my mind that the Democrats will take back the Senate, and hopefully the Assembly as well,” said Kiefert.

In the Assembly, all 99 seats are up for re-election. Right now, it's divided between 59 Republicans, 39 Democrats and 1 independent.

Democrats say it will be more of a challenge to gain a majority there. Republicans say they're expecting to hold strong.

“We think we have a pretty strong hold on those seats. Those areas are rather strongly Republican,” said Tusler.

Both parties say their membership has never been as strong as it is right now. Republicans and Democrats say they hope that excitement will last all year long.

The partisan primary for the fall election will be Tuesday August 14. The general election is November 6th. The primary for the recall is May 8th, with the final recall on June 5th.

Copyright 2013 WLUK TV. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Political Pulse

We welcome your thoughtful comments. Be the first to participate in the discussion. All comments will display your username and avatar.