Wisconsin Democrats on Tuesday flipped a state Senate seat in a GOP-leaning district, prompting excitement among local party officials
Patty Schachtner (D) defeated state Rep. Adam Jarchow (R) in a special election to replace a senator who left for a job in Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) administration, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
Schachtner, the chief medical examiner in Wisconsin’s St. Croix County, won in the state’s 10th Senate district, which voted heavily for President Trump and Republican nominee Mitt Romney in the past two presidential elections.
Despite Schachtner’s win, Democrats remain in the minority in the state senate, according to the Journal Sentinal.
Schachtner’s victory in the western Wisconsin district drew attention from U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu, who suggested Tuesday night’s result was a sign of things to come.
Democrats have expressed optimism heading into November’s midterm elections in the wake of successful campaigns at the state and local level.
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee touted Schachtner’s win as the 34th district to flip from Republican-held to Democrat-held since President Trump was inaugurated a year ago.
Democrats won governor races in New Jersey and Virginia, a special U.S. Senate election in Alabama and several other state races late last year.
