Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R.) expressed alarm Tuesday night over the flipping of a longtime Republican seat in the state Senate to the Democrats, tweeting the result was a "wake up call."
Democrat Patty Schachtner defeated Republican state Rep. Adam Jarchow in a special election to fill the rural, western Wisconsin seat vacated by former Sen. Sheila Harsdorf. Harsdorf had held the seat since 2001 and resigned to become Walker's new agriculture secretary.
The result is a bad omen for Republicans, seeing as President Donald Trump carried the district easily in 2016 en route to a statewide victory, the first by a Republican presidential candidate in Wisconsin since 1984.
"Senate District 10 special election by a Democrat is a wake up call for Republicans in Wisconsin," Walker tweeted.
Walker sent out a series of follow-up tweets encouraging followers to "share the good news" about the positive things Republicans are doing in Wisconsin.
Senate District 10 special election win by a Democrat is a wake up call for Republicans in Wisconsin.
— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) January 17, 2018
WAKE UP CALL: Can’t presume that voters know we are getting positive things done in Wisconsin. Help us share the good news.
— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) January 17, 2018
WAKE UP CALL: Can’t presume voters know that more people are working than ever before. Help us share the good news.
— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) January 17, 2018
WAKE UP CALL: Can’t presume that voters know that we invested more actual dollars into schools than ever before. Help us share the good news.
— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) January 17, 2018
The Wisconsin result is yet another poor local election result for Republicans, who are seeing mounting signs of a wave election in 2018 as Democrats have made pickups across the country. Democrats have recently scored big wins in Virginia, New Jersey and Alabama statewide races as well.
Trump holds historically low approval ratings for a president in his first year in office, and the GOP appears to be paying the price at the ballot.