Wisconsin Voters Stand With Workers in Historic Recall Elections

The tireless efforts of union members and broad coalitions of allies in Wisconsin paid off for the second week in a row, as voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected the Republican attempt to recall Democratic state Sen. Dave Hansen.

Hansen's victory and Democratic wins in primaries last week have the potential to put the state Senate back in pro-worker hands, putting the brakes on the extreme budget-slashing, anti-worker, anti-union agenda of Gov. Scott Walker and Republican lawmakers.

Recall election victor Dave Hansen and Wisconsin's 13 other Democratic state senators signed a poster for CWA memorializing the 2011 battle for workers' rights. Wisconsin delegates presented the framed poster at last week's CWA convention.

"We're 7 for 7 so far," said CWA Legislative Political Action Team member Mark Frey of Local 4630, echoing other excited activists who've worked hard on all the campaigns. "We are on track to take back Wisconsin for the middle class, but there is still a lot of work ahead."

Hansen is one of the "Wisconsin 14," the courageous Democratic senators who left the state for four weeks in February to try to stop Republicans from ramming through a bill stripping collective bargaining rights from public workers.

Hansen's win follows primary victories last week by six Democrats, who will now compete Aug. 9 in recall elections against six anti-worker Republican senators. The primaries were required due to a well publicized dirty-tricks campaign, in which Republicans entered phony Democrats in the races.

On Aug. 16, two more members of the Wisconsin 14, Democratic Sens. Robert and Jim Holperin, face recall attempts.

The August elections mean CWA members and countless other volunteers from all walks of life will spend another four weeks calling voters, knocking on doors and reaching out to coworkers.

"Since the attacks on Wisconsin's middle class working families began in February, ordinary citizens all across the state have come together to make their voices heard and take back their government from the autocratic, one-party extremism being thrust upon them in Madison," CWA District 4 Vice President Seth Rosen said. "The victories this Tuesday and last merely strengthen our resolve as we look forward to finishing the job in the critical elections next month."