Democrat Claims State Senate Seat From Western Wisconsin

St. Croix County Chief Medical Examiner Patty Schachtner has won a special election to fill a vacant seat in the Wisconsin senate.  The district in western Wisconsin has been held by Republican Sheila Harsdorf for the last 17 years.  Harsdorf resigned to take a position as state agriculture secretary.  Schachtner is a Democrat.  She says she thinks she won because outside groups started sending nasty-themed mailings to voters in an effort to sway the election race in favor of Republican State Representative Adam Jarchow.  Assembly races in Washington and Racine counties were split, with one Republican victory and one Democrat prevailing.