Two powerful, long serving lawmakers went head-to-head in the 29th state Senate race last night. In the end, Republican Jerry Petrowski prevailed over Democrat Donna Seidel.
Jerry Petrowski only entered the race after recall target Pam Galloway resigned her Senate seat. He thanked a roomful of people who have backed him in the Assembly for 14 years: “I’m not sure anybody’s ever run a 10 week state Senate campaign, but we have.”
Several miles away, Assistant Minority Leader Donna Seidel told a stunned group of supporters at the Wausau Labor Temple to keep fighting for health care, education, and women’s rights, “And we need to continue to commit to those ideals, and those values, and those priorities, and we will!”
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Seidel said she hopes Republicans will now reach out to Democrats: “Even the Republicans have to recognize that what’s gone on in Wisconsin is not good for any of us. I would hope that better angels prevail.”
Petrowski said he’ll make the effort, “I’m going to make a lot more effort to try and bring people together, and hopefully we’re going to get to a time where we can work together and pull in one direction.”
Jerry Petrowski won by 22 percentage points, ending Donna Seidel’s 40 year career in public service.
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