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Democrats pick up control in state Assembly

Wisconsin’s balance of power shifted late last night as Democrats gained the majority of seats in the state Assembly for the first time in 14 years.

Fifty-two Democrats, 46 Republicans and one independent were projected winners in the Assembly and will be joined in the Capitol by 18 Democrats and 15 Republicans in the state Senate.

Mike McCabe, spokesperson for the nonpartisan watchdog Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, said local elections mirrored national trends because of the economic situation, adding, “The race for the [state] Legislature became nationalized.”

“There weren’t a lot of clear state issues,” McCabe said. “The issues that were on peoples’ minds were national — the economy and the war in Iraq.”

Rep. Kim Hixon, D-Whitewater, said people in Wisconsin are frustrated with the massive state budget deficit and voted tonight to give Democrats control.

“National issues are overriding, and people wanted a change,” said Hixon, who was leading by a narrow margin with not all precincts reporting as of press time in his race to Republican Debi Towns of Janesville. “That’s what we saw with the election of Barack Obama, and that’s what we’ve seen tonight with the Assembly races.”

Mike Mikalsen, spokesperson for Rep. Steve Nass, R- Whitewater, echoed Hixon’s thoughts on the impact of state budgetary woes on the Republican’s loss of power.

Some state Assembly Republicans, Mikalsen said, crossed partisan lines by voting for Gov. Jim Doyle’s $763 million increase in taxes and fees, thereby disappointing Wisconsin citizens.

“Rep. Nass has made it very clear that the Republicans both nationally and in Wisconsin have lost their way,” Mikalsen said. “They voted to spend, to raise taxes, and did not provide an alternative to the message of the Democrats.”

State Assembly Republicans failed to keep their promise of curtailing excessive spending, Mikalsen said, adding, “The way you win elections is by keeping your word.”

Hixon said he and other Democrats are excited to work with politicians from all parties because “good partisan politics are good for the state.”

“We are going to be willing to work with Republicans,” he said.

But despite Democratic success on both the national and state levels, Mikalsen said people did not vote overwhelmingly against conservative principles. Californians voted to ban gay marriage, and two states passed amendments banning affirmative action.

“People should not assume this was a major social shift in the part of the electorate,” Mikalsen said.