Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker made history Tuesday, becoming the first US governor to survive a recall election, after a bitterly contested fight over his efforts to curb unions.
The rising Republican star defeated Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and the union leaders who rallied for months against his agenda.
Democrats and organized labor spent millions to oust Walker, but found themselves hopelessly outspent by Republicans from across the country who donated record-setting sums to Walker. Republicans hope the victory carries over into November and that their get-out-the-vote effort can help Mitt Romney become the first GOP nominee to carry the state since Ronald Reagan in 1984.
Mitt Romney issued a statement saying Walker’s victory “will echo beyond the borders of Wisconsin.”
Walker “has shown that citizens and taxpayers can fight back — and prevail — against the runaway government costs imposed by labor bosses,” Romney said. “Tonight voters said no to the tired, liberal ideas of yesterday, and yes to fiscal responsibility and a new direction.”