Securing the only statewide Republican spot in this year's Wisconsin elections, attorney general candidate J.B. Van Hollen defeated Democrat Kathleen Falk early Wednesday morning.
According to unofficial election reports with all precincts counted, Van Hollen picked up 1,062,657 votes to Falk's 1,053,586, making the spread 50.2 percent to 49.8 percent.
The win marks Van Hollen — a former U.S. attorney for Wisconsin's Western District and district attorney of Bayfield and Ashland Counties — as the first Republican to win the position of Wisconsin's top cop since Don Hanaway was elected attorney general in 1986. Hanaway held the office for one term before losing to now-Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle, who won re-election Tuesday.
Doyle, elected to his second term, will now share the east wing of the state Capitol building with Van Hollen.
"As law enforcement's choice, and now the people's choice, I will work with local and federal authorities to make Wisconsin the safest place to work, live and raise a family," Van Hollen said at a news conference in the Capitol Wednesday.
The attorney general race was Van Hollen's first bid for a statewide office. During his campaign, Van Hollen made extensive grassroots efforts to reach voters across Wisconsin with his message of focusing on tough law enforcement.
And at the news conference, Van Hollen said he would manage his office as attorney general the same way he ran for the office — as a neutral law enforcer with a bipartisan approach focused on fighting crime and restoring integrity to Wisconsin government.
Van Hollen added he spoke with both Doyle and outgoing Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager Wednesday about his transition into the new job.
According to her campaign, Falk called Van Hollen Wednesday to congratulate him on his win, but the campaign also hinted at a possible recount of the election, as the results came down to about 9,300 votes.
"Kathleen Falk has called J.B. Van Hollen to wish him the best," Falk's campaign manager Tim Del Monico said in a release. "Given the narrowness of the election results, we will review the official canvas when it is completed by the Elections Board and evaluate the options at that time.
And according to State Elections Board executive director Kevin Kennedy, county boards must provide official results to state elections officials by Nov. 21.
A recount must then be formally requested and must specify which of the 7,570 wards across the state must be recounted by Nov. 27 at 5 p.m.
Falk has been Dane County executive for nearly 10 years and served as an assistant attorney general for 14 years. During her campaign, Falk stressed her administrative experience, arguing that she has had longer and broader experience and was better prepared to manage the state Department of Justice.
In the September primary, Falk defeated Lautenschlager, while Van Hollen defeated Waukesha County District Attorney Paul Bucher.
And at his press conference Wednesday, Van Hollen appeared focused on tackling the responsibilities of the office, saying he is well prepared.
"I truly believe God does not give us any challenges that we cannot handle," he said. "So we move forward, embracing the future, as always; and I can't wait to get started."
In the state's other race decided Wednesday morning, Democrat Dawn Sass defeated incumbent Republican Treasurer Jack Voight — previously the highest-ranking elected Republican statewide. Unofficial results with all precincts counted indicate Sass won by 8,648 votes and 47.4 percent of the vote.
