JoAnne Kloppenburg declares victory in Wisconsin court special election – recount likely

April 6, 2011

Huffington Post – With all 3,630 precincts reporting, JoAnne Kloppenburg had secured 204 more votes than Wisconsin Justice David Prosser in the state’s supreme court election,according to the AP.

Kloppenburg declared victory in the contest on Wednesday afternoon. The match-up, however, is likely to face a recount vote.

The Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel relays a statement released by Kloppenburg on the results as they stand:

“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.”

According to the Associated Press, a recount election in the race would have to be requested by no later than April 20.

Counties must start to canvas the vote on Thursday and they have until April 15 to turn in the results. Once the county’s last report is filed, a recount can be requested within three business days.

Turnout shattered predictions. State officials had expected 20 percent in line with past elections, but Democrats’ pushed hard to make the election a referendum on a polarizing union-rights law pushed by Republican Gov. Scott Walker. They branded Prosser a Walker clone and held Kloppenburg up as the best hope for stopping the measure.