An effort to amend the state’s constitution to ban same-sex marriage failed.
In Ohio, Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown fended off a challenge from state Treasurer Josh Mandel (R) in one of the most competitive and closely watched Senate races in the country.
Two House seats switched parties but did not affect the overall political makeup of the Buckeye State.
Former state Rep. Joyce Beatty (D) defeated Republican Chris Long in the 3rd district, and Republican Rep. Jim Renacci bested Democratic Rep. Betty Sutton in a Member-vs.-Member matchup in the 16th district.
Tea-party-backed newcomer Brad Wenstrup (R) easily won the redrawn 2nd district just east of Cincinnati that was previously represented by Jean Schmidt, who lost to Wenstrup in the primary.
Wisconsin elected the first openly gay member of the Senate on Tuesday, when Democrat Tammy Baldwin defeated former Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) in one of the most expensive races in the country.
Baldwin’s campaign outspent Thompson’s on media buys, using his name recognition as a former Health and Human Services secretary to paint him as a Washington, D.C., lobbyist.
None of Wisconsin’s eight Congressional districts switched parties on Tuesday.
Vice presidential hopeful Rep. Paul Ryan (R) will be returning to Congress to represent the southeastern corner of the state after handily defeating challenger Rob Zerban (D). Incumbent Reps. Ron Kind (D), Gwen Moore (D), Jim Sensenbrenner (R), Tom Petri (R), Sean Duffy (R) and Reid Ribble (R) held onto their seats, and Democrat Mark Pocan won the seat left open in the 2nd district by Baldwin’s Senate bid.
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