Gableman Wins

From the Wisconsin State Journal:

Michael Gableman, a self-described conservative, pro-law enforcement judge, won his bid to become the newest member of the Wisconsin Supreme Court late Tuesday, unseating incumbent Justice Louis Butler, the court's first black member, in a win that likely tilts the court to the right.

It was the first time in 41 years that a sitting state Supreme Court justice failed to win re-election. Gableman, 41, Burnett County's only circuit court judge, ended Butler's nearly four years on the court. Butler, 56, a former Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge, was appointed by Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle in 2004.

Voters in the Madison and Milwaukee areas voted heavily for Butler while rural, suburban Milwaukee and North Woods voters went mostly for Gableman, who said his message of being a judicial conservative was key to his win. Butler did not concede after the race was called by the Associated Press just before midnight but was expected to issue a statement this morning.

I think it was really strange that Butler didn't concede. Sour grapes.

It's like Butler wanted to leave the door open to pull an Al Gore and send in the lawyers to contest the results.

Butler is probably thinking that there must be a loophole somewhere. (I say "loophole" with great affection.)