Polls close at 8:00 p.m. (CDT)
Election results will be streaming live via the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal website.
There was a surge in TV ad spending over the weekend in dollar amounts over 9 to 1 supporting the Constitutional Amendment aimed at ousting our Supreme Court Chief Justice.
Gavel Grab
Justice at Stake said a group backed by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce has booked television ads supporting Question 1 in the amount of at least $195,626 in two markets, an increase of more than $79,000 since early Friday. The group, Vote Yes for Democracy, also previously reported radio ad expenditures of $189,084. The group has received all of its reported funds to date, $600,000, from the WMC Issues Mobilization Council.
Meanwhile, a group backed by the Greater Wisconsin Committee has booked television ads opposing Question 1 in the amount of at least $96,180 in two markets, an increase of a little over $8,500 since early Friday. To date, the group, Make Your Vote Count, has $280,000 in contributions from the Greater Wisconsin Committee.
I was voter No. 20 at my polling place this morning. That doesn't bode well for turnout which the Government Accountability Board predicts will be around 20%. Polls close at 8:00 p.m. (CDT) tonight. Results should start coming in soon after that as I don't think there are going to be all that many ballots to count.
I noticed while voting that in addition to party affiliation being absent from the ballots in this "non-partisan" election, the incumbency of Ann Walsh Bradley was also not indicated. Her opponent James Daley was given the top slot on the ballot I filled out.
2015 JR 2 the Constitutional Amendment aimed at our Chief Justice (called Question 1 in the blockquote) was the very last item on my ballot after row upon row of uncontested races for which voting was a moot waste of time.
In case you missed it up top, the election results will be streaming live on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal website.
Another race to keep an eye on is the
Green Bay Mayoral race pitting incumbent Jim Schmitt (R) against City Counsel President Tom DeWane.
As many of you know I blog from an Android Cellphone, so "liveblogging" is in the eye of the beholder. I'll be doing my best to update with the latest numbers, but quite often my phone doesn't like cooperating with me. I'll do my best.
6:16 PM PT: First results I. 1% reporting Walsh leads w/61% Const Amend Res 50/50
6:18 PM PT: Still 1% reporting Walsh has 53%
6:26 PM PT: 2% reporting Walsh up w/56% Q1 at 56/44 for
6:31 PM PT: 4% reporting Walsh up w/61% Q1 now 51/49 against
6:36 PM PT: 7% reporting Walsh up w/57% Q1 still 51/49 against
6:39 PM PT: 9% reporting Walsh up w/56% Q1 now 54/46 for
6:47 PM PT: Still 9% Walsh has 57% Q1 at 52/48 for
6:49 PM PT: 11% reporting Walsh has 54% Q1 at 53/47 for
6:54 PM PT: 12% in Walsh has 55% Q1 at 53/47 for
6:56 PM PT: 14% reporting Walsh at 54% Q1 % unchanged
6:58 PM PT: Correction Walsh at 56%
7:01 PM PT: 16% reporting Walsh has 55% Q1 now 54/46 for
7:06 PM PT: 18% in Walsh with 55% Q1 % unchanged
7:11 PM PT: 22% reporting Walsh now up w/57% Q1 at 52/48 for
7:13 PM PT: 26% in Walsh with 58% Q1 at 51/49 for
7:18 PM PT: 28% reporting Walsh has 59% Q1 % unchanged
7:23 PM PT: 32% reporting Walsh has 58% Q1 at 52/48
They will be calling this for Ann Walsh Bradley soon. The Constitutiinal Amendment is going to be very tight.
7:30 PM PT: Just realized I've been using Walsh instead of Bradley... mind is on the numbers.
36% reporting Bradley at 59% Q1 at 52/48 for
7:36 PM PT: 44% reportin Ann Walsh Bradley has 58% Q1 now 51/49 for
7:40 PM PT: 50% in!! Bradley holding at 58% Q1 now 52/48 for... nail biter!
7:51 PM PT: 56% reporting percentages unchanged.
7:56 PM PT: HA! HA! Watertown has voted over 2 to 1 to Overturn Citizens United!
8:03 PM PT: With 63% of the precincts reporting the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal has called the Supreme Court Election FOR ANN WALSH BRADLEY!!!!
Q1 is still 52/48 in favor though...
8:31 PM PT: This diary has become too big for my phone to handle easily. I've posted a new diary celebrating Ann Walsh Bradley's victory, and will be updating the Constitutional Referendum tally there.
Thanks for hanging with me folks... We can still pull Q1 off with some late city returns!