A Ray of Sunshine in the Badger State

When you lose, it helps to ease the pain by looking for golden nuggets in that manure pile.

Example — Wisconsin and the continued success of Republicans at the state level:

Republicans recaptured the state Senate on Tuesday, once again giving them the complete control of state government that they used to enact sweeping changes in the last legislative session.

But their margin and sway in the upper house remained unclear because of a tight race in east central Wisconsin. Whether Republicans have a one- or two-seat majority in the Senate is pivotal because GOP Sen. Dale Schultz of Richland Center has bucked his party on some key issues. Among the issues Republicans hope to take up in the next two-year session is loosening mining regulations – a proposal Schultz has resisted.

[…]

Republicans controlled all of state government during the last legislative session, but they lost the run of the Senate this summer after Democrat John Lehman defeated Sen. Van Wanggaard in a recall election in Racine County. Tiffany’s win gives Republicans the 17th seat they need to retake the majority.

In addition to retaking the Senate, Republicans were on track to maintain control of the Assembly with a healthy margin.

The results in legislative races provided a bright spot for Wisconsin Republicans on a night when they lost the state’s contests for president and U.S. Senate. Part of the reason they were able to thrive in what was otherwise a bad night for their party in Wisconsin was because they recently redrew legislative maps to their advantage.

Also, former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory’s victory Tuesday in North Carolina means the GOP will control the statehouse there for the first time in two decades. Overall, Republicans will probably end up with 32 governors — a majority they’ve not seen since the 1990’s.

It’s not much, but last night was not all doom and gloom for the GOP.