Wisconsin is in the midst of its busiest electoral season in history, with Tuesday, May 8, marking the second of three statewide elections being conducted this spring. This election consists of the primaries for recall elections challenging Gov. Scott Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, and four Republican state senators. As with every election day, candidates will be hosting parties with their supporters after the polls close.
There are four candidates running in the Democratic primary for governor, three of whom will be hosting events in Madison for their supporters:
- Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett will be at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Milwaukee, starting at 8 p.m.
- Former Dane County Exec Kathleen Falk will be at the Edgewater Hotel on Lake Mendota, starting at 8 p.m.
- Secretary of State Doug La Follette will be at The Old Fashioned on the Capitol Square, starting at 8 p.m.
- State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout will be at Inn on the Park on the Capitol Square, starting around 7 p.m.
There is also a contested race on the Republican side of the ticket. Incumbent Gov. Scott Walker will be at the campaign's Waukesha Victory Center in the Milwaukee suburb, starting at 8:45 p.m. Challenger Arthur Kohl-Riggs, a Capitol protester and self-described "Lincoln Republican," will be at The Fountain on State Street in Madison, starting at 8 p.m.
In the race for Lt. Governor, Madison firefighter and labor leader Mahlon Mitchell will be at Moe's Tavern and Grill on State Street, starting at 8 p.m.
There are also primaries in each of the Republican state senator recalls, due to the Republicans running fake candidates against the four Democratic candidates vying to replace the incumbents. One of these races is in south central Wisconsin -- that for the District 13 seat held by Sen. Co-Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald. He is being challenged by Lori Compas, who will hold an election night party at Café Carpe in Fort Atkinson, starting at 8:30 p.m.
There are several idiosyncrasies in the primary recall election, with municipal and county clerks around the state preparing for high turnout. The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board is projecting a 30-35% turnout for the primary. Information about where to vote is provided via Wisconsin Public Voter Access.
Polls close at 8 p.m., at which point all eyes will turn to screens to follow the returns at restaurants, taverns and homes across Wisconsin. The recall general election follows on Tuesday, June 5.
