GOP Senate leader Fitzgerald wins recall race - WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Veteran Senate Republican Leader Scott Fitzgerald has defeated Democrat Lori Compas in Tuesday's recall elections.

Democrats angry with Republican Gov. Scott Walker's contentious plan that all but ended most public workers' union rights forced the governor, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, Fitzgerald and two other GOP senators into recalls. They also were trying to capture an open seat in Tuesday's elections.

Walker claimed he had to impose the union restrictions to balance the state budget. Democrats saw the moves as a direct attack on organized labor.

Compas, a Fort Atkinson photographer, has never held public office and faced a difficult fight against Fitzgerald. He has represented his southeastern Wisconsin district in the Senate for nearly two decades.