Elections yield few big changes in government

With the exception of 28 new faces in state government, many observers are describing the outcome of the recent elections as, "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

This is due to the fact very little has changed nationally or at the state level in terms of overall partisan caucus and conference composition and leadership. For example:

All of the members of Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation were re-elected with Republicans holding 5 seats and Democrats 3 seats

Madison Democrat Mark Pocan won the single open U.S. House seat vacated by Madison Democrat Tammy Baldwin; and

Democrat Tammy Baldwin won the open U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Democrat Herb Kohl.

Republicans still control virtually all of the levels of state government in Wisconsin in that:

The Governor is a Republican

The State Assembly increased its Republican majority to 60 seats compared to the Democrats’ 39; and

The State Senate Republicans won back control 17 – 15 after only a few months of Democratic control.

A special election will be held in December to fill the one open State Senate seat in heavily Republican Waukesha County. State Rep. Paul Farrow is favored to win that seat. Then, a special election will need to be called to fill his Assembly seat.

Twenty eight completely new lawmakers will take their seats in January. Twelve of the 28 new additions have never held public office before, though some of them have other experience in Wisconsin government.

Parties maintain split control in Washington, D.C. in that:

The Democrat President has been re-elected

Republicans control the U.S. House of Representatives; and

Democrats control the U.S. Senate.

More election results and analysis is available from the Wheeler Report and WisPolitics.