More than 45,000 ballots were cast in Walworth County Tuesday for state, congressional, legislature and county seats with local residents by and large supporting incumbents on both sides of the aisle. Below are updated, unofficial results as of this morning.
Two county offices were on the ballot, both uncontested as Republicans Kurt Picknell and Kristina Secord will retain their seats as sheriff and clerk of circuit court, respectively.
In the race for governor, it was announced early this morning challenger Tony Evers defeated incumbent Scott Walker with 49.59 percent of the votes to 48.43 and 99 percent of precincts reporting. Walworth County saw nearly 60 percent of its voters back Walker.
The race for Attorney General was still too close to call this morning as there was a less than 1 percent margin between incumbent Brad Schimel (R) and challenger Josh Kaul (D.) Nearly 60 percent of Walworth County voters threw their support behind Schimel.
Democrat incumbent Doug Lafollette will remain Secretary of State, defeating challenger Jay Schroeder. In the Treasurer race, Democrat Sarah Godlewski won with 51 percent of the vote to Republican Travis Hartwig’s 47 percent and Constitution Party candidate Andrew Zuelke’s 2 percent. In both of those races, the majority of Walworth County voters – roughly 58 percent – backed the Republican candidates.
The following U.S. and state senate and assembly seats were on the ballot:
Congressional races
In the race for U.S. Senate, Democrat incumbent Tammy Baldwin has been declared the winner, with 55 percent of the votes to challenger Leah Vukmir’s 44 percent and 69 percent of precincts reporting. In Walworth County, Vukmir edged Baldwin by garnering 55 percent of the votes.
Republican Bryan Steil won Paul Ryan’s seat in District 1 for the U.S. House over Democrat Randy Bryce with 55 percent of the votes. Sixty-one percent of the voters in Walworth County supported Steil.
In District 5, incumbent Jim Sensenbrenner retains his seat with 62 percent of the votes, defeating democratic challenger Tom Palzewicz. To the contrary, in Walworth County, the five precincts that voted in the race saw 60 percent support Palzewicz.
State Legislature
Two state Senate seats were unopposed – Republican Steve Nass in District 11, and Democrat Janis Ring in District 15.
In Senate District 21, incumbent Van H. Wanggaard (R) will retain his seat, defeating challenger Lori Hawkins.
Area assembly district races saw incumbents retain their seats but not all by large margins: Amy Loudenbeck (R) earned 58 percent of the votes to defeat challenger Brittany Keyes in District 31; 59 percent of voters supported Tyler August (R) over Katherine Gaulke in District 32; Cody Horlacher (R) garnered 63 percent of the votes over Brandon White in District 33; 61 percent of voters supported Don Vruwink (D) over Gabriel Szerlong in District 43; Robin Vos (R) earned 61 percent of the votes over challenger Joel Jacobsen in District 63; incumbent Chuck Wichgers (R) defeated challenger Jim Brownlow in District 83 with 70 percent of the votes. In Walworth County, 58 to 72 percent of voters supported the incumbents in the assembly races.
Referenda results
School districts in Walworth County that had referenda on Tuesday’s ballot received support from voters while it was mixed results for municipalities.
In municipal referenda, results were as follows: 70 percent of Town of Delavan residents voted “yes”; in the Town of Sugar Creek, 55 percent voted in favor of that referendum; 70 percent of Village of Bloomfield residents voted “no” to the referendum question; the Village of Darien referendum garnered 64 percent of “yes” votes.
School districts seeking voter approval saw the following results:
- Big Foot Union High School’s two referendum questions both received support – one of them by a margin of 33 votes, according to unofficial results.
- Burlington Area School District voters in Walworth County garnered 46 percent in favor however, the referendum passed;
- Delavan-Darien School District’s referendum was supported by 56 of voters;
- Whitewater Unified School District saw 64 percent support its referendum;
- Williams Bay School District’s referendum garnered support by 56 percent of voters.
In the Dark Store advisory referendum on the ballot, 74 percent of Walworth County residents voted in favor of ending the loophole.
See this week’s Southern Lakes Newspapers publications for additional coverage of the midterm election.
