Mike Tate stepping down as chairman of Wisconsin Democrats

MADISON (AP) — Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate is stepping down as chairman in June after holding the position for six years.

Tate emailed party members Thursday.

Tate, who is 35, was one of the youngest state party leaders in the country when he first was elected for the job in 2009.

He chaired the party during a tumultuous period, highlighted by the collection of more than 900,000 signatures to force a recall election of Republican Gov. Scott Walker in 2012.

Tate was in charge for Democratic wins like Tammy Baldwin's victory for the U.S. Senate in 2012 and President Barack Obama's re-election. But he was also the chairman for three Walker victories and a Republican wave in 2010 that saw them take majority control of the Legislature away from Democrats.