In Wisconsin, a judicial nominee backed by union groups has declared victory in a closely watched race for a seat on the state Supreme Court. With all votes counted, Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg edged out incumbent and Republican-backed Supreme Court Judge David Prosser by just 204 votes. Prosser is expected to seek a recount. Many saw the race as a referendum on Governor Scott Walker’s anti-union agenda. At a victory news conference, Kloppenburg said Wisconsin voters trust her to be an impartial judge.

JoAnne Kloppenburg: “Their confidence in the court had eroded from the way past elections had been run and from what they had seen of partisanship and distractions of personalities on the court. And they saw from my record at the Department of Justice and from my campaign that I would be independent and impartial. I would help move the court forward, away from partisanship and away from personal quarrels.”