MADISON, Wis. –– Wisconsin Republicans came close to picking up enough seats to override Democrat Gov. Tony Evers' veto power, but ultimately fell short based on unofficial results.

What You Need To Know

  • Republicans hoped to pick up three seats in the Senate and three seats in the Assembly to have the votes needed to override vetoes by Gov. Tony Evers

  • Republicans picked up two seats in the Senate, giving the party a 21-12 majority

  • Democrats gained two seats in the Assembly, bringing the GOP majority down to 61-38

Republicans still have very healthy majorities in both the state Senate and Assembly, but Democrats did prevent the GOP from reaching two-thirds majorities in either house of the legislature.

Republicans picked up two seats in the Senate, giving the party a 21-12 majority, which is one of the largest for either caucus since the 1970s.

Former DATCP Secretary-Designee Brad Pfaff, who wasn't confirmed by the Senate last fall, won his race against former State Sen. Dan Kapanke by a narrow margin in the La Crosse area. However, Green Bay attorney Eric Wimberger beat out De Pere Ald. Jonathon Hansen for the seat vacated by retiring State Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay). Meanwhile, Republican State Rep. Rob Stafsholt defeated State Sen. Patty Schachtner (D-Somerset).
 

Senate Minority Leader Janet Bewley discusses protecting Gov. Evers' veto.


Senate Minority Leader Janet Bewley (D-Mason) said Democrats protecting the governor's veto couldn't have come at a better time.

“Particularly, that we're going to be drawing new district maps in the coming session, and of course we'll be doing another budget, so that veto power is very, very important,” State Sen. Bewley said.

Meanwhile, in the Assembly, Democrats only managed to knock off two Republican incumbents in the Milwaukee suburbs.

In Assembly District 13, Democrat candidate Sara Rodriguez was leading State Rep. Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield) according to unofficial results and Deb Andraca was winning the race in Assembly District 23 against incumbent State Rep. Jim Ott (R-Mequon).
 

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos reacts to election results in video message. Courtesy: Wisconsin Assembly Republicans.


In a video message Wednesday afternoon, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) said he is focused on moving forward after the election in a way that prioritizes the health and well-being of Wisconsinites.

“The voters have spoken and they have returned a good conservative majority to the legislature,” State Rep. Vos said. “It’s been a long, trying campaign cycle and I think most Americans, like most Wisconsinites, want us to start focusing on the policy that affects your family instead of the politics that affect politicians.”

Assuming the unofficial results don't change, the Republican's majority in the Assembly would drop to a 61-38 margin.