"We are going to get right back up:" Democratic challenger Mary Burke concedes governor's race
MADISON (WITI/AP) -- Wisconsin's Republican Gov. Scott Walker has defeated Democratic challenger Mary Burke, winning re-election to a second term.
Walker's win Tuesday marks his third victory in four years. He won a first term in 2010 and a recall election in 2012 prompted by anger over a law that effectively ended collective bargaining for most public workers.
The win also keeps Walker in the mix for a potential 2016 GOP presidential bid, although he downplayed such talk during the tough re-election campaign against Burke.
She is a former Trek Bicycles executive and state Commerce Department secretary who argued that Walker failed the state and was too divisive.
But Walker prevailed by arguing that he turned around the state's economy while cutting taxes and wiping out a budget shortfall.
Burke addressed supporters at Madison's Overture Center Tuesday night. This, after Burke made several campaign stops on Election Day.
Burke on Tuesday, November 4th made stops in Green Bay, Wausau and Milwaukee.
On Tuesday evening, she was in Madison kicking off a voter canvas -- getting volunteers ready to knock on more doors.
This, after Burke's 13-hour campaign marathon Monday, when she crisscrossed the state.
On Monday night, Burke was joined by Senator Tammy Baldwin for a "thank you" celebration Burke held in Madison for her campaign volunteers.
On Tuesday, Burke said she was looking forward to watching the results come in.
"We are so close to victory. I am so proud of the campaign we have run. It is about Wisconsin's future, and we can bring this state back together. It does not have to be the divisiveness we have seen over the last four years," Burke said earlier Tuesday.
Campaign managers were watching the results come in from traditionally Democratic areas like Milwaukee and Burke's hometown of Madison, and said both should will be wins for Burke.
"Leaving no stone unturned. For those who are track fans, or run races, we`re running through the tape. Mary is going to leave no stone unturned. She`s going to wake up every single day as governor committed to working her tail off to create more jobs and opportunity," Burke for Governor Communications Director Joe Zepecki said.
Mike Tate, Chairman of the Wisconsin Democratic Party issued this statement on the election results:
“The results weren’t what we hoped for, but the people have spoken and we congratulate Gov. Walker and the Republican Party of Wisconsin on their victory tonight.
We also congratulate and thank Mary Burke for running a spirited, ideas-driven campaign that we can all be proud of. Against all the odds, and facing an influx of special interest cash and negative attack ads, Mary came much closer to victory than anyone could have predicted and did so with dignity and determination.
To all of you who have stood alongside us in this fight, I thank you for every door you knocked, every call you made, every dollar you donated, and every day you kept the hope alive for a better Wisconsin.
Today we lost an election, but tomorrow the hard task of governing begins anew for Scott Walker. And the fight for the progressive values we believe in will continue as we immediately begin planning for victory in 2016."
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