With a new governor and senator, in other races around the state and Dane County people voted to keep some incumbents in office and to elect new candidates in others.
Incumbents will remain in office for attorney general, secretary of state and Dane County sheriff, with a new face taking over as state treasurer.
Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen will stay in office after his opponent, Republican Scott Hassett conceded Tuesday night.
Van Hollen thanked everyone at the Department of Justice in a statement, and added the win “reflects the quality of their work.”
In addition, he said he looks forward to further advance public safety partnerships, and also said he is behind the new leaders in Wisconsin.
“I pledge to our new governor and newly elected Legislature my assistance as our state’s attorney and as law enforcement’s voice for the priorities of public safety,” Van Hollen said.
Hassett said in a statement while he was disappointed with the results, he is proud of the campaign and the issues it brought to the forefront.
“This is an important office, and we all have a stake in the leadership and direction of the Department of Justice – from ensuring public safety…to protecting Wisconsin’s consumers and natural resources,” Hassett said.
Garnering 51.8 percent of the vote, Secretary of State Doug La Follette will continue his more than 30-year stint in the position, having held office since 1974.
While Republican candidate David King took an early lead, it proved to be short-lived. The race remained close, however with King garnering 48.2 percent of the vote.
King came under fire in October after a woman filed a civil suit against him claiming he had sex with her after she passed out from intoxication.
The vote remained close to the end, with the Associated Press calling the vote in La Follette’s favor shortly after 1 a.m. this morning.
Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney will be serving another term as well after garnering just over 71 percent of the vote Tuesday, according to the Dane County Clerk’s website.
Mahoney’s opponent, Republican Shawn Haney, received only 28.5 percent of the vote..
The race became heated after Haney said he was concerned with Mahoney’s leadership abilities. Mahoney representatives said Haney ran against Mahoney after Haney was fired in 2007 for allegedly using office money to fund his son’s football team.
Haney also said he felt the electronic monitoring program allowed too many violent criminals to walk the street, whereas Mahoney said he would like to see the program expand.
Republican Kurt Schuller defeated Democratic incumbent Dawn Marie Sass in the office for state treasurer.
Sass served one term as state treasurer.
While Schuller said it took awhile for the race to be called, he was happy with the results, and now that he’s been elected he aims to do what he told voters.
“I hope to accomplish exactly what I told the voters 11 months ago…because I am a man of my word,” Schuller said.
Among these assurances, Schuller said he would not seek re-election and try to eliminate the office of state treasurer, which he said has minimal power.
– The Associated Press contributed to this report