Democrat Tony Evers has denied Gov. Scott Walker a third term leading Wisconsin.
Polls leading up to Election Day showed the race as a tossup between the two. Evers took an early lead Tuesday night and Walker was unable to close the gap.
It was the toughest campaign of Walker’s political career.
He faced constant attacks from Democrats about whether he’d protect health insurance coverage for people pre-existing conditions. Walker insisted pre-existing conditions would always be covered, and called the attacks one of the biggest lies of the campaign.
Walker told the Washington Examiner last week that he believed the attacks were resonating with voters. “Yeah, we think the lie about pre-existing conditions is something people are taking seriously,” he said.
A Kaiser Family Foundation poll released in mid-October found healthcare to be a top issue for Democrats and independents in deciding whom they will vote in the midterm elections.
Walker has also been a top target for Democrats and labor unions for years, especially after his reforms to public sector collective bargaining.
On the campaign trail, the governor touted the state’s low unemployment rate under his leadership. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the jobless rate consistently dropping during Walker’s two terms. In September, Wisconsin had a 3 percent unemployment rate.
Despite the low jobless rate, Evers said Wisconsin families are still struggling.
