Wisconsin Senate control priority for both parties in midterm elections

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Right now, Wisconsin has a republican governor and republican control of both houses of the legislature.

They can theoretically pass laws along party lines, but the November election could change that.

Republicans hold an overwhelming 64-35 lead in state Assembly seats, a deficit many think will be too difficult to overcome, but flipping just two Senate seats could give democrats the state Senate.

Republican Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, says holding the Senate is a major republican priority.

"Oh it's huge, Wanggaard said. "I mean. We need to keep both houses and the executive branch, so that we can continue with the forward looking economic development policies."

Democratic state Rep. Daniel Riemer, D-Milwaukee, says even cutting into the republican lead in the Assembly would change how state laws are made.

"It makes a huge difference," Riemer said. "It changes the negotiations that occur on a number of issues."

He says if democrats take either the senate or the governorship, you will see different policy on education,  roads and healthcare.

"A number of states that have these split governments. Republican and democratic control, have expanded medicaid."

Riemer says democrats are spreading a message that government should work for everyone, not just the elite.

Wannggaard says the republican message, is the economy is working.

"You can't pass a business that doesn't have a sign out that they're looking to hire people," Wanggaard said. "That was not the case during the Doyle administration."

All 99 state Assembly seats are up for election this year. Only 17 of the 33 state senate seats are up for election.

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