Official recount results released today show Sen. Lehman defeating incumbent Republican Sen. Van Wanggaard.

“The official canvas after the June 5 elections showed Lehman leading Wanggaard by 834 votes out of nearly 72,000 ballots cast in Racine County’s 21st Senate District — a victory that would give Democrats a one-seat majority in the Senate. Wanggaard, however, refused to concede and demanded the recount.

The final tally from the Racine County clerk’s office Monday showed Lehman winning by 819 votes, with the Democrat tallying 36,358 votes to Wanggaard’s 35,539.”

Sen. Lehman’s victory gives Democrats control of the Wisconsin Senate for the first time since Gov. Scott Walker took office in January of last year.

The razor thin margin affirms that every penny spent in this race was critical in helping Sen. Lehman reclaim the seat he lost to Sen. Wanggaard in 2010.  People For’s members played an active role in this race, and we couldn’t be prouder of what they achieved.

Despite Sen. Lehman’s big win, the race is not over yet.  Wisconsin state law holds that the Government Accountability Board must wait 5 days before the results can be offically certified and Democrats can once again regain control of the Senate.  Sen. Wanggaard has until July 10th to formally file a challenge.

Once these final obstacles are cleared, John Lehman will rejoin his colleagues in the Senate and help continue the fight to protect the rights of Wisconsin workers.