WISCONSIN
      Nov. 4, 2014 Governor

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 Sen.1
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+Scott Walker/Rebecca Kleefisch (R) i 1,259,706
 52.26%
Mary Burke/John Lehman (D)
 1,122,913
 46.59%
Robert Burke/Joseph M. Brost (I)
 18,720
 0.78%
Dennis Fehr (I)
 7,530
 0.31%
write-ins
 197
scattering
 1,248
 0.05%

2,410,314
Plurality: 136,793 votes (5.68 percentage points).
WI Elections Commission



Notes:  Gov. Scott Walker (R) defeated Mary Burke (D), former Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Commerce and a former director at the Trek Bicycle Corporation.

Elected in 2010 by a 52.3% to 46.5% margin over Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Walker was facing his third election in four years. 
Starting in mid-Feb. 2011 there were dramatic protests over Act 10, legislation which cut benefits and collective bargaining for public employees.  The unrest culminated in the June 5, 2012 recall election, where Walker defeated Barrett by a somewhat larger 53.1% to 46.3% margin.  These events made Walker a national hero to many conservatives, and he was seen as a likely 2016 presidential candidate. 

Burke announced her candidacy on Oct. 7, 2013. Her private sector experience at Trek Bicycle and close to three years as Secretary of Commerce in the Doyle administration gave her experience and credibility on economic issues.  She also served on the Madison Metropolitan School Board since 2012.  It appeared Burke might run unopposed for the Democratic nomination, but on Apr. 21, 2014 state Rep. Brett Hulsey entered the race.  Burke defeated Hulsey by 83.3% to 16.6% in the Aug. 12 primary.  State Sen. John Lehman won the primary for lieutenant governor, thereby joining Burke on the ticket.  In September, Burke had to fend off charges she had plagiarized passages in her economic plans; this proved to be due to a consultant recycling some of his work for other campaigns.

Walker and Burke participated in two debates hosted by Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation, in Eau Claire on Oct. 10 (>) and in Milwaukee on Oct. 17 (>).

According to the National Institute on Money in Politics, the Walker campaign received contributions totaling $33.8 million compared to $17.4 million for the Burke campaign (>).  Additionally, outside groups invested significant amounts in the race; according to the RGA's post-election memo, "Democratic groups – including six different entities – spent $10 million. The RGA and its partner spent $8 million in 2014."


Campaign Managers:
Scott Walker:  Stephan Thompson
(Mar. 2013)  Executive director (May 2011-Mar. 2013) and previously deputy executive director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.  Deputy campaign manager on Walker's 2010 gubernatorial campaign.  Served on several statewide and local political and issue advocacy campaigns.  Graduate of Carroll College.  West Allis native.

 Mary Burke:  Maggie Brickerman
(Oct. 2013)  Executive director of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Aug. 2009-Oct. 2013. Communications director in the Offfice of Assembly Majority Leader Thomas Nelson, Jan.-Aug. 2009.  Campaign manager for Alison Page for State Senate, June-Nov. 2008.  Campaign director on Citzens for Dane County's Future, Nov. 2007-April 2008.  Campaign manager for Ann Hraychuck for State Assembly, June-Nov. 2006.  B.A. in political science and government from University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2008.


See also:
Bill Glauber.  During tight campaign, Scott Walker's key advisers kept campaign on track."  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 15, 2014.

Gabrielle Levy.  "Mary Burke defends against plagiarism accusations."  UPI, Sept. 22, 2014.

Jessie Opoein. "Mary Burke's women-led campaign team makes history behind the scenes."  The Capital Times, Sept. 9, 2014.


Iowa State University - Archives of Women's Political Communication: Mary Burke.



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