Wisconsin's Gov. Walker Goes Down in Photo Finish

In results that were heartbreaking to conservatives nationwide, Wisconsin’s Republican Gov. Scott Walker lost a close race Tuesday night.

Two-termer Walker, famed for ending collective bargaining for many public employees  and surviving a 2012 recall movement that drew worldwide attention, was edged out by Democratic Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers.  The margin of defeat was 49.3 to 48.5 percent.

“I’m never going to win by any landslide,” Walker said in 2012, shortly after he became the first governor in U.S. history to survive a recall attempt. “When you take bold positions and follow through on them, you are bound to make enemies. So I’ll just be satisfied with 51, 52, or 53 percent and winning.”

Walker was re-elected in 2014.  At the time, the White House seemed the next likely step in his lightning political career. However, a poorly-organized campaign resulted in the Badger State governor becoming one of the first casualties in the 17-candidate Republican fight that ended with Donald Trump as the nominee.

Walker’s supporters hoped Wisconsin’s record-low unemployment and freeze on college tuition would be enough for voters to give the governor a third term.

“But Walker did have his enemies out there,” Ellen Foley, former prize-winning journalist and head of a communications company in Madison told Newsmax, “And we Wisconsin people hold education in high regard and don’t think a lot of people who want to change it. [Walker was a strong advocate of school vouchers].  In many ways, Tony Evers was the right opponent for Walker.”

And Evers also had backing from national outlets who had a score to settle with Walker.  AFL-CIO President Rich Trumpka had long ago branded Walker “Public Enemy Number One” and the Democratic Governors Association unleashed $4 million in Wisconsin to defeat Walker.

At 52, Scott Walker finally tasted defeat at the hands of his sworn enemies — albeit a close one.  As to whether he remains in politics and what his next move will be remains to be seen.

John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.