MONROE — American voters took to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 5, facing questions up and down the ballot. Local elections included various positions for county officials, school districts across the state asked voters to pass a variety of referendums to fund operations, and months of commercials and advertisements for state and federal races came to a close.

The White House will look a bit different in 2025, but similar nonetheless. American voters seem to have elected former President Donald Trump over current Vice President Kamala Harris. Election results from Nov. 5, are unofficial until official canvassing is completed.

“We’re going to help our country heal,” Trump said. “We have a country that needs help, and it needs help very badly. We’re going to fix our borders, we’re going to fix everything about our country and we’ve made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is going to be just that.”

Trump, running as a Republican, was first elected as the 45th President of the United States in 2016 and served in office from January 2017 to January 2021. He resoundingly lost the 2020 election to Democrat and former Vice President Joe Biden. Biden initially sought re-election for 2024, but dropped out in July. Per party rules, Democrat leaders hand-picked Harris to run in his place.

As of Nov. 6, Trump had gained a majority of votes across the country, 72.6 million to 67.9 million, and had secured 295 electoral college votes to Harris’ 226. A candidate only needs to get to 270 to win the presidency. This was the first time in Trump’s three election bids that he won the popular vote, having lost that element of the process in 2016 to Hillary Clinton and then to Biden four years later.

Harris conceded on Wednesday and called to congratulate Trump on his successful campaign.

Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin (D) defeated challenger Eric Hovde (R) by about 30,000 votes. Baldwin’s total of 1.67 million was about 49.4% to Hovde’s 1.64 million and 48.5%.

“It is clear that the voters have spoken and our campaign has won,” Baldwin said after the election. “The people of Wisconsin have chosen someone who always puts Wisconsin first, someone who shows up, listens, and works with everyone to get the job done. And they rejected the billionaires and the special interests who want to come to our state, spread hate and division, and buy their way into power. I am proud to head back to the Senate as we embrace our state motto, Forward, and keep fighting for the workers, farmers, and families that make our state great. From the bottom of my heart, it is an honor to serve the people of Wisconsin.”

Republicans appear to have retaken control of the Senate, gaining three seats across the country to hold 52 seats. Democrats have 44 seats, and there are four races that have not yet been decided with votes still outstanding.

There are 38 uncalled congressional seats in the House of Representatives across the country as well, with Republicans having flipped one seat already from the 397 races that have a clear winner. Should Republicans get 218 spots in the House, they would win the “trifecta”, and would hold leadership of all three branches of government, with the U.S. Supreme Court currently in a 6-3 conservative favor. 

One of the seats Republicans were unable to flip was Wisconsin’s 2nd Congressional District, which covers all of Green and Lafayette and Dane counties, plus parts of Iowa, Richland and Sauk Counties. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Black Earth) resoundingly defeated Erik Olsen (R-Madison) for the second time in as many elections with 70.1% of the vote.

Operational referendums for schools: Monroe rejected, all others pass

Feeling burdened by rising prices and taxes from a variety of other recent referendums, the voters of the School District of Monroe rejected a 4-year, $1.5 million operational referendum. 

The measure failed: 3,755 (43.8%) ‘Yes’ votes to 4,554 (53.1%) ‘No’.

“Failure to secure the additional $1.5 million for operations does not address current and future fiscal needs of the District and will require the Board of Education to consider options to address the District budget and bring an operational question back to voters in the future,” Monroe superintendent Rodney Figueroa said in a post-election statement. “Cutting an additional $1.5 million from the operating budget will impact educational programing throughout the District.”

He said Monroe’s Board of Education was extremely mindful of local economic conditions in their decision not to increase the amount of the referendum from where it had been the previous eight years.

Moving forward, Figueroa said the district will use a combination of fund balance attrition and budget reductions to balance the budget for now.

“Use of the fund balance is a short-term solution and is not sustainable,” Figueroa said. “The issues which have created the budget shortfalls in Monroe, and around the state, still exist in the Wisconsin State public school funding laws which do not adequately address inflation.”

Earlier this summer, when debating whether to ask voters to cover the shortfall, the board acknowledged that without passage, staff jobs and possibly entire departments could be cut. This spring, the board approved an administrative plan of $900,000 worth of cuts. Now further cuts will need to take place again at the end of this school year.

The ask for a $1.5 million yearly boost was the same amount district voters approved in 2016 and extended in 2018. However, the extra funding expired in June of this year, which comes while state assembly leaders continue to slow public funding for public schools. 

Had the state funding stayed the same since 2009, Monroe’s budget would have been more than $3 million larger — meaning a referendum wouldn’t have been sought. Instead, like hundreds of districts across the state in 2024, school boards had to ask local voters for assistance as state leaders sit on a budget surplus of more than $4 billion.

“Wisconsin families value public education and understand our schools need sustainable funding to keep the lights on and provide a high-quality education to our kids. At the same time, they understand this responsibility should not disproportionately fall on local taxpayers,” State superintendent Dr. Jill Underly said. “Our state legislature has severely underfunded public schools for well over a decade, and it has led to a record number of districts going to referendum to try and fix severe financial constraints on their own. Too many communities were forced to vote Tuesday whether to increase property taxes just so their local schools can pay staff, heat and cool their buildings, and provide a quality education.”

There’s a better path to move forward, Underly said, and reinvesting in public schools and its students is a must.

“The upcoming biennial budget provides yet another opportunity for the legislature to uphold its responsibility to appropriately fund public schools, and to stop forcing Wisconsin communities to make impossible choices,” Underly said.

Other area districts received better news in the election. Albany, Argyle, Darlington and Juda all passed operational referendums to cover their shortfalls.

Albany passed a $3.75 million referendum that runs through the 2026-27 school year. 

“On behalf of the district, I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who engaged in the process and participated in the vote. Regardless of your choice, our district is stronger when everyone participates,” said Albany superintendent Kurt Soderberg.

Darlington’s mark was $9.5 million total over five years. 

“The Darlington Community School District extends a heartfelt thank you to our incredible community for your unwavering support. Together we are building a brighter future, and we couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for being the backbone of our success,” the district shared on Facebook Nov. 6.

Juda will get an extra $750,000 for five years, and $350,000 each year after. 

The Juda vote comes after a similar question failed in the spring.

“We are very thankful for our community and the support we have received,” superintendent Traci Davis the district said in a statement. “This will help keep programs and opportunities for all of our students. We will continue to strive to keep making the Juda School the best that it can be.”

Argyle asked voters for an $800,000 recurring referendum, meaning the money will continue each year with no end date. It passed with 58% of the vote.

“This referendum will allow us to continue programs and keep and attract staff,” District Administrator Dr. Randy Refsland said in a statement to voters. “This community continually shows its support for one another and our schools. We are appreciative of the trust you give us and will continue to work hard to maintain that trust.”

Butts wins Green County Treasurer race

Jayne M. Butts defeated Dawn Marie Sass 11,407-9,627 in the race for Green County Treasurer. It was the only contested race in the county.

Butts has lived in Green County her entire life. She has served as town clerk and treasurer in her career.

Area state assembly, senate race results

Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville) defeated Elizabeth Grabe (D-Mount Horeb) in the 51st Assembly District race. Jenna Jacobson (D-Oregon) fended off Rich Johnson (R-New Glarus) in the 50th Assembly contest. Both districts had new boundaries after Fair Maps legislation was passed earlier this year.