Seidel defeats protest candidate

Associated Press

Updated: May 8, 2012 9:52 PM

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — State Rep. Donna Seidel has defeated protest candidate Jim Buckley in a Wisconsin Senate recall primary.

Preliminary results from Tuesday's elections showed Seidel, a Wausau Democrat, with 63 percent of the vote. Buckley, of Antigo, had 37 percent.

Seidel advances to face Republican Rep. Jerry Petrowski in a June 5 general recall election. Incumbent Sen. Pam Galloway resigned after Democrats forced her into a recall, leaving her seat open. Three other Democrats are vying to replace three incumbent Republican senators.

All the recalls were spurred by the GOP senators' support for Republican Gov. Scott Walker's contentious law restricting public workers' union rights.

The four Democrats each faced Republicans running as Democrats in Tuesday's primaries. The GOP recruited protest candidates to ensure the real Democrats had to go through primaries.

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