Barrett and Walker to face off in June

AP Modified

Updated: May 9, 2012 6:49 AM

MADISON — Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Gov. Scott Walker will square off in the June 5 gubernatorial recall election.

Barrett won Tuesday's Democratic primary defeating three other Democrats and one Republican running as a Democrat.

Walker beat Arthur Kohl-Riggs in the Republican recall primary.

Barrett and Walker faced each other in the 2010 governor's race. Walker won by 5 percentage points.

Barrett also previously ran for governor in 2002 and lost in the Democratic primary.

Walker's deputy campaign manager Dan Blum issued a statement saying Barrett was about to enter his "third statewide losing campaign."

Blum says "Rather than Tom Barrett's path of taking Wisconsin back to the days of billion-dollar deficits, double-digit tax increases and record job loss, we are confident that voters will choose to stand with Governor Walker and move Wisconsin forward."

Democratic Party of Wisconsin chairman Mike Tate says, "After months of historic division, job loss, criminal corruption and partisan power grabs, Tom Barrett offers Wisconsin a new start."

Tate's statement continues saying, "Walker's sleazy money can't vote, and it is clear that the people of Wisconsin will take the opportunity with a leader like Tom Barrett to give Wisconsin a new start at healing our great state and beginning the long job of repairing the devastation wrought by 17 months of irresponsible rule."

The recall was spurred by Walker's proposal effectively ending collective bargaining rights for most public workers.

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