August 17, 2011 08:45 PM UTC

Democrats Hold On In Wisconsin Recall Round Two

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• by: Colorado Pols

McClatchy wraps up the coverage from Madison (for now):

The six-month saga that was Wisconsin’s state Senate recall movement ended Tuesday with Democrats retaining two seats – and Republicans still in possession of a week-old, razor-thin 17-16 majority.

On the fourth election day of the summer, two Democratic incumbents were victorious. Sen. Jim Holperin beat challenger and tea party activist Kim Simac, and Sen. Bob Wirch easily topped Republican lawyer Jonathan Steitz.

Bottom line: Republicans will continue to control the agenda in the Capitol, but it will be difficult for Gov. Scott Walker and other GOP leaders to get everything they want…

Mike Tate, state Democratic Party chairman, said: “At the end of this historic recall effort, Democrats have the momentum. No Democrat was defeated for standing up for our principles and standing up against the runaway, reckless agenda of Scott Walker.”

While control of the Wisconsin Senate wasn’t in jeopardy yesterday, a loss by either Democrat up for recall would have given Republicans lots of ammunition to spin the lengthy battle in Wisconsin over Gov. Scott Walker’s anti-union agenda in their direction. Much was made of the possibility that Democrats would end up “right where they started” if these Senators were recalled.

But they weren’t; and even though Republicans didn’t lose the chamber last week, which was of course the original goal, the score today in the Wisconsin Senate recall battle is 2-0 Democrats.

This has reportedly emboldened claims that they’re not done.