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Republicans Are Worried About This Democrat's Special Election Win

Democrat Patty Schachtner won the special election for Wisconsin's 10th Senate District, the same district President Donald Trump won by 17 points.
Posted at 9:54 AM, Jan 18, 2018
and last updated 2018-01-18 09:54:46-05

A Democrat won a state Senate seat in a GOP stronghold in Wisconsin — and Republicans are worried.

Patty Schachtner won the special election for Wisconsin's 10th Senate District. Republican Sheila Harsdorf had held that seat since 2001 but stepped down last year.

In 2016, President Donald Trump won that same district by 17 points.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, called Schachtner's win a "wake up call." And he's not the only one who feels that way.

Many speculate the latest upset win might be a sign of a bigger trend heading into the 2018 midterms.

In December, Alabama Democrat Doug Jones pulled off a major upset victory in the special election for U.S. Senate.

Plus, The Washington Post notes a controversial GOP opponent didn't influence Schachtner's win, like it might've in Alabama with Jones' Republican rival, Roy Moore.

That said, Republicans will still hold a 18-14 majority in Wisconsin.