Madison, Wis. — Republican state Rep. Dan Knoddle defeated a Democratic attorney general to win an open Senate seat in Tuesday’s special election, creating a GOP supermajority in the chamber that could be used to impeach Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and other office holders.
Knoddle defeated Jody Habush Sinikin in the 8th District race. The seat represents Milwaukee’s north suburbs and has leaned Republican over the years. It opened after longtime Republican incumbent Alberta Darling decided to retire in November. Evers called a special election to fill the position.
Dan Knoddle, via Facebook
“This campaign has always focused on issues like rising prices, crime and education, and I am incredibly grateful to the voters of the 8th Senate District for trusting me to represent them in the Wisconsin State Senate.” Knodl said in a statement Wednesday.
“Whether you vote for me or my opponent, I want to represent all my constituents firmly and faithfully,” he said.
Noddle’s win gives Senate Republicans 22 votes in the 33-seat chamber. That’s enough to override a government veto in that house. A successful override takes two-thirds of the vote in the Senate and Assembly, leaving Assembly Republicans two seats shy of the 66 they need.
Nadel’s victory gave Senate Republicans enough votes to convict the governor, other constitutional officials such as the attorney general and a civilian official, including a judge in the impeachment trial. Knoddle said he likely would not support efforts to impeach Evers.
The state constitution says civil officials, including governors, lieutenant governors and judges, can be impeached. A February analysis from the Legislative Reference Bureau concluded that other constitutional officials, such as attorneys general and state school superintendents, could also be impeached.
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