Wisconsin Recall Election May Have Surprising Twist

There is more than the governor’s office at stake in the Wisconsin recall election. Democrats could see Gov. Scott Walker, R-Wisc., keep his job but end up in control of the state Senate or even the lieutenant governor’s seat, The Washington Post’s political blog The Fix reported.

Four Senate seats are up in the recall election and two of the districts went for President Barack Obama in 2008. Democrats need to win just one Senate seat to take control, the Post reported.

Another scenario is that Walker keeps his job but ends up with a Democratic lieutenant governor. Current Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, R-Wisc., is also on the ballot and under Wisconsin recall rules is not running on the same ticket as Walker. In other words, voters can split their ticket, choosing a governor from one party and a lieutenant governor from another, the Post reported.

Such a result would have the head of the firefighters union, Democrat Mahlon Mitchell, serving as Walker’s lieutenant governor. Under the state constitution, Mitchell could claim control whenever Walker left the state, the Post reported.