Wisconsin, State Senate | featured news

Republicans held onto control of the Wisconsin Senate on Tuesday night, beating four Democratic challengers in a recall election viewed as a referendum on Republican policies in that state and beyond. The Associated Press declared Republican Sens. Alberta Darling of River Hills, Robert Cowles of Allouez, Sheila Harsdorf of River Falls and Luther Olsen of Ripon winners. The AP also declared Democratic challengers Jennifer Shilling of LaCrosse and Jessica King of Oshkosh victors.

Two fake Democrats were defeated and four others trailed in early election results Tuesday against Democrats supported by the party in the first recall elections targeting nine Wisconsin state senators.

The Assembly is set to pass the bill limiting collective bargaining rights for government workers in Wisconsin after a Senate procedural move ended the standoff on Wednesday.

Wisconsin's Republican Gov. Scott Walker said on Monday that absent senate Democrats have 24 hours to return and vote on a measure to reduce the power of public sector unions or the state will miss out on opportunity to refinance its debt.

While a bill limiting collective bargaining rights was passed in the Wisconsin Assembly, the measure stalled because Senate Democrats remained out of the state.