Chris Larson and Chris Abele

Chris Larson is giving Chris Abele a run for his money in the Milwaukee County executive race.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

State Sen. Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) and incumbent County Executive Chris Abele easily topped a four-candidate field in Tuesday's primary and will compete for the job of county executive on the April 5 spring election ballot.

Larson had a more than 700 vote lead over Abele with 100% of the votes counted at the end of a night marked by several lead changes.

Larson, leading with a slim margin, won 45% of the vote in Tuesday's primary, according to preliminary results.

Abele received 44% of the primary vote to place well ahead of Joseph T. Klein of the Wisconsin Pirate Party and Steve Hogan, a carpenter.

Larson, at the state Capitol late Tuesday where the Senate was wrapping up a floor session, said he was pleased with Tuesday's results.

"I feel extremely positive," Larson said. "My reputation for standing up for working families is noticed by voters."

"And despite being outspent nearly 20 to 1 by our opponent, tonight we showed that the race for Milwaukee County executive is tied as we head into the April general election."

"We're just getting started," Larson said. "There's plenty of room on the bandwagon for more."

Abele said he expected this to be a close race.

I didn't realize the race was so close.

I'm no fan of Chris Abele, but Chris Larson would be a disaster as Milwaukee County executive.

I suppose he's grown up since his shoplifting days, but it remains a part of his story.

I don't know what to say about his disorderly conduct arrest in 2004. He was no "struggling college student" when that happened.

His messy past matters, but not as much as his Leftist record as a politician.

Milwaukee and Milwaukee County are on a Detroit trajectory.

Electing Larson would be a terrible mistake.