Wednesday, November 7, 2012
12:34 AM
Gudex ahead in 18th with all precincts in; Republicans poised for 18-15 majority
GOP challenger Rick Gudex appears to have eked out a narrow win over Dem state Sen. Jessica King, according to unofficial returns.
With all precincts in, Gudex had 43,039 votes to 42,449 votes for King.
That margin is almost 0.7 percent of the votes cast for the two of them. Under state law, a candidate who loses by less then 0.5 percent of the vote in a race can request a recount without having to pay for it. If the unofficial numbers hold up after the canvass, King would have to pay for a recount if she wanted one conducted.
In the other closely watched state Senate races, Republican Tom Tiffany has won the open 12th, which is now held by the retiring Jim Holperin, D-Conover. In the 30th, state Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay, fended off Republican John Macco to win re-election.
Should the Gudex lead hold up, Republicans will be poised for an 18-15 majority next session. The heavily Republican 33rd SD is now vacant, and GOP Reps. Paul Farrow and Chris Kapenga were locked in a tight race for the Republican nomination. Whoever wins will be unopposed in the December general election to fill the seat because no Dem filed to run.
-- By JR Ross
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