Hansen survives recall attempt with landslide victory over VanderLeest
This article covering 2011 recall elections was written outside the scope of Ballotpedia's encyclopedic coverage and does not fall under our neutrality policy or style guidelines. It is preserved as it was originally written.
July 19, 2011
By Geoff Pallay and Greg Janetka
MADISON, Wisconsin: Senator Dave Hansen (D) fought off the first recall election in 2011 with a resounding victory over challenger David VanderLeest (R) today.[1] More than 30,000 voters visited the polls to voice their opinion on whether the incumbent senator should remain in office.
 
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Dave Hansen David VanderLeest
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Additionally, Kim Simac defeated Robert Lussow in the Republican primary for District 12 while Jonathan Steitz triumphed over Fred Ekornaas in the Republican Primary for District 22. Simac will now face Jim Holperin in a recall election on August 16 while Steitz will go up against Robert Wirch that day. [2]
District 12
| July 19 Republican primary[3] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
Kim Simac 
|
11,300 | 58.53% | ||
| Robert Lussow | 7,765 | 40.22% | ||
| Scattering | 242 | 1.25% | ||
District 22
| July 19 Republican primary[4] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Jonathan Steitz
|
5,981 | 61.06% | ||
| Fred Ekornaas | 3,369 | 34.39% | ||
| Scattering | 446 | 4.55% | ||
District 30
| July 19 Recall[5] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Dave Hansen (D)
|
22,051 | 65.93% | ||
| David VanderLeest (R) | 11,054 | 33.05% | ||
| Scattering | 340 | 1.02% | ||
Hansen's victory means the Republican edge in the Senate remains at 19-14. If the Democratic challengers win in at least three recall races on August 9, then the Senate will flip in the Democrats' favor. Republicans would then need to win back at least one seat on August 16 to win back control.
Hansen was the front-runner in the race from the start. Hansen raised $190,000 and had $243,000 in the bank for the recall.[6] Meanwhile, VanderLeest reported raising a shade over $2,000.[7]
The two Republican primaries had significantly lower turnout than in the recall election tonight and the 6 Democratic primaries last week. Each Democratic primary and the Hansen race had a minimum of 21,000 votes cast. Unofficial results show less than 10,000 voters came out to the polls in the Steitz versus Ekornaas contest. Simac versus Lussow turned out slightly higher figures, with more than 15,000 total votes.
The stark difference is likely attributed to the protest candidates last week that attracted Republican voters to the Democratic primaries.
Simac and Steitz held substantial fundraising advantages over their opponents in the Republican primaries. Simac took in more than $90,000 while Robert Lussow reported $350 in donations.
Voters will now wait three weeks before the next recall-related event, with the 6 recall elections of Republican incumbents on August 9.
See also
- Recall of Wisconsin State Senators (2011)
- Wisconsin State Senate
- Laws governing recall in Wisconsin
- Redistricting in Wisconsin
Footnotes
- ↑ WBAY "2011 recall primary election results," July 19, 2011
- ↑ NBC 26 "Election Results, July 19 Recall," July 19, 2011 (dead link)
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "July 19 primary results District 12," accessed August 11, 2011
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "July 19 Primary Election Results District 22," accessed August 11, 2011
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "July 12 Primary Election Results District 30," accessed August 11, 2011
- ↑ Green Bay Press Gazette, "Wisconsin state Sen. Dave Hansen of Green Bay has $243K in campaign funds," July 12, 2011
- ↑ Fox 11 "Focus turns to next Senate recall races," July 13, 2011
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