[The Democrats won control of the state assembly](https://badgerherald.com/news/2008/11/05/democrats_pick_up_co.php) for the first time since 1994, ending 14 years of GOP control and giving the Democrats complete control of the legislature, as well as the governor’s mansion. Projections reported in the Herald today put the Democratic lead at 52-46 in the assembly, and 19-14 in the state senate. As the article describes, Rep. Steve Nass (R-Whitewater), the demagogue who is currently chair of the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities, attributes the losses to Republicans voting in favor of Gov. Doyle’s budget. Sorry Steve, that’s just not the case. The state elections, for better or worse, were defined by the national issues, and Republican losses are much more likely a direct result of Obama’s landslide victory in Wisconsin, especially in traditionally Republican areas of the state. Voters were not punishing Republicans for not being conservative enough. Just like they didn’t on the national stage, where [Democrats gained at least 18 seats in the House](http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/house/votes.html) and at least [5 seats in the Senate. ](http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/senate/votes.html)