Republicans maintained control of both houses of the state Legislature with final results in a couple of races still pending early Wednesday.
With Republicans holding an 18-15 majority in the Senate headed into Tuesday, Dems needed to hold onto the 1st SD to have any hopes of flipping the chamber.
But Dem Sen. Caleb Frostman, who won the seat in a June special election, conceded to GOP Rep. Andre Jacque, of De Pere, late Tuesday. That put the GOP majority at 19-14 come January, when the new session begins.
“I hope that the people of Wisconsin do not lose hope,” Frostman said. “We need to keep working to ensure that our children and grandchildren have a safe and peaceful environment to grow up in. Everyone, regardless of their gender, race, and religion deserves a dignified life, and it is up to us to hold our representatives accountable, and to fight for the future of our State.”
Dems targeted several other seats, but Republicans had leads in the three that were considered most competitive:
*With all precincts reporting, GOP Rep. Dale Kooyenga had a 51-49 lead on Dem Julie Henszey in the open 5th SD, which is now in Republican hands.
*GOP Sen. Howard Marklein, of Spring Green, was declared the winner in southwestern Wisconsin’s 17th SD with a 54 percent to 46 percent advantage on Dem challenger Kriss Marion.
*And GOP Sen. Roger Roth, of Appleton, beat Dem challenger Lee Snodgrass 53-47.
Republicans targeted Dem Sen. Janet Bewley, of Ashland. But she beat Republican challenger James Bolen 51-49.
Meanwhile, former Dem Rep. Jeff Smith, of Eau Claire, beat Republican Mel Pittman to keep the open 31st in Dem hands.
Unless final returns flip one of those margins, Republicans would come back with a 19-14 majority in January.
In the Assembly, Republicans went into Tuesday with a 64-35 majority and only a handful of races in GOP-held seats ended up being nip-and-tuck.
*In the 14th, Republican state Treasurer Matt Adamczyk had a 21-vote lead with all precincts reporting.
*In the 13th, Republican Rep. Rob Hutton, of Brookfield, had a 959-vote lead on Dem Dennis McBride with all precincts reporting.
*In the 23rd, GOP Rep. Jim Ott, of Menomonee Falls, had a 1,084-vote lead on Dem Liz Sumner with all precincts reporting.
*In the 51st, GOP Rep. Todd Novak, of Dodgeville, had a 329-vote lead with all precincts reporting.
*In the open 96th, now in GOP hands, Republican Loren Oldenburg had a 771-vote lead over Dem Paul Buhr with all but two precincts reporting.
