GOP Holds Senate After Wisconsin Recall Vote

The results of Wisconsin's closely watched recall elections are in and the Democrats have failed to win control of the state Senate. Four of the six targeted Republican lawmakers have successfully defended their seats, while two seats have been picked up by Democrats, the AP reports. The Democrats needed to flip one more seat—and win two recall votes next week targeting their own lawmakers—to win a majority.

The recall move against Republicans was sparked by a backlash following Gov. Scott Walker's move to strip public employees of many union rights. But some voters complained that the movement lost focus as groups from across the country poured money into the races. "This was all supposed to be about the workers' rights. But that has not been brought up one time. It's all been misleading, the attack ads, things like that," complained a voter who decided to stick with his Republican senator. "The one reason they started this recall, they didn't bring up once." (More Wisconsin stories.)