Alberta Darling
Alberta Darling (born April 28, 1944) is an American politician who is currently a Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 8th District since 1993. She currently serves as the Senate Co-Chair of the Joint Finance Committee, the state's budget-writing committee. Darling's constituency includes many of the municipalities directly north and northwest of Milwaukee and part of the City of Milwaukee. Before her election to the Senate, she served in the Wisconsin Assembly, representing the 10th district from 1990 to 1993.
Alberta Darling | |
---|---|
Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 8th district | |
Assumed office January 4, 1993 | |
Preceded by | Joseph Czarnezki |
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 10th district | |
In office May 1990 – January 4, 1993 | |
Preceded by | Betty Jo Nelsen |
Succeeded by | Annette Polly Williams |
Personal details | |
Born | Hammond, Indiana | April 28, 1944
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | William Darling (m. 1967; died 2015) |
Children | 2 |
Residence | River Hills, Wisconsin |
Education | University of Wisconsin–Madison (B.S.) |
Profession | Teacher, Marketing Director |
Website | http://legis.wi.gov/senate/08/darling |
Personal life and education
Darling was born in Hammond, Indiana and raised in Peoria, Illinois where she graduated from Richwoods High School. She attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in 1966. After graduating from UW-Madison, she moved to Milwaukee and did graduate work at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee from 1972 to 1974. [1] Darling was a high school English teacher in Milwaukee and later the marketing and business development director for the Milwaukee Art Museum before being elected to public office. [2]
Darling met her husband, Dr. William "Bill" Darling, during their time at the University of Wisconsin. The two married in 1967, and up until his death in the spring of 2015, Bill was a respected ear, nose, and throat surgeon in Southeast Wisconsin. Darling and her husband have two children and three grandchildren. She is a longtime resident of River Hills, Wisconsin, which she represents in the Senate.[3][4]
Wisconsin State Legislature
Darling first joined the Wisconsin State Legislature by winning a special election in 1990 for the 10th district, defeating Rick Graber in the primary. She served the remainder of the term and a full two-year term in the State Assembly before being elected in 1992 to the state Senate, a seat she has held ever since. Darling faced a contentious election in 2008, though she fended off a challenge from State Representative Sheldon Wasserman by a mere percentage point and would go unopposed in the next two regular election cycles in 2012 and 2016. In 2020, Darling faced a challenge from Neal Plotkin, a sales representative and substitute teacher from Glendale. The race was heavily targeted by Democrats amidst eroding support for Republicans in suburban districts, and Darling was outspent 2:1 as Plotkin was boosted by a significant edge in outside spending.[5] However, Darling won re-election by eight percentage points (a margin nearly identical to the 2011 recall) and outperformed other Republicans on the same ballot.[6]
Since 2000, she has served on the Joint Finance Committee, the state's budget-writing committee, and currently serves as the Senate co-chair. Her six terms chairing the committee is tied for most in state history.[7] In addition to the Joint Finance Committee, Darling serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance and Vice-Chair of the Committee on Education, and also serves on the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, the Committee on Universities, Technical Colleges, Children and Families, the Joint Committee on Employment Relations, Joint Legislative Audit Committee, and the Joint Legislative Council.[8]
2011 recall
Darling was one of nine Senators (six Republicans and three Democrats) to face a recall election effort in 2011 following the enactment of 2011 Wisconsin Act 10. On March 2, 2011 the "Committee to Recall Darling" officially registered with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board[9] and on April 20, 2011, the recall campaigns announced that they had gathered nearly 30,000 signatures - enough to trigger a recall election. The 8th Senate District was considered a heavy target for Democrats and outside spending,[10] yet Darling would defeat Democratic challenger Sandy Pasch by a larger margin than she had won in 2008; 54 percent to 46 percent.[11] The election was notably the last race to be called with the balance of the Senate and the ultimate fate of Republican reforms at stake, and received national coverage on election night as a result.[12]
Electoral history
Wisconsin Assembly (1990)
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Primary Election, April 3, 1990 | |||||
Republican | Alberta Darling | 6,403 | 50.33% | ||
Republican | Timothy D. Lawless | 4,481 | 35.22% | ||
Republican | Richard W. Graber | 1,839 | 14.45% | ||
Total votes | '12,723' | '100.0%' | |||
General Election, May 1, 1990 | |||||
Republican | Alberta Darling | 668 | 100.0% | ||
Total votes | '668' | '100.0%' | |||
Republican hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Primary Election, September 11, 1990 | |||||
Republican | Alberta Darling (incumbent) | 2,498 | 57.97% | ||
Democratic | William R. Boyd | 1,811 | 42.03% | ||
Total votes | '4,309' | '100.0%' | |||
General Election, November 6, 1990 | |||||
Republican | Alberta Darling (incumbent) | 12,572 | 73.25% | ||
Democratic | William R. Boyd | 4,591 | 26.75% | ||
Total votes | '17,163' | '100.0%' | |||
Republican hold |
Wisconsin Senate (1992-2016)
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Primary Election, September 8, 1992 | |||||
Democratic | William C. Whitten | 14,859 | 62.84% | ||
Republican | Alberta Darling | 8,788 | 37.16% | ||
Total votes | '23,647' | '100.0%' | |||
General Election, November 3, 1992 | |||||
Republican | Alberta Darling | 55,130 | 67.41% | ||
Democratic | William C. Whitten | 26,656 | 32.59% | ||
Total votes | '81,786' | '100.0%' | |||
Republican gain from Democratic |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Primary Election, September 10, 1996 | |||||
Republican | Alberta Darling (incumbent) | 5,925 | 43.10% | ||
Democratic | Randy Nash | 5,476 | 39.84% | ||
Democratic | Dave Tatarowicz | 2,301 | 16.74% | ||
Taxpayers | Tim Gallert | 44 | 0.32% | ||
Total votes | '13,746' | '100.0%' | |||
General Election, November 5, 1996 | |||||
Republican | Alberta Darling (incumbent) | 45,244 | 58.78% | ||
Democratic | Randy Nash | 29,728 | 38.62% | ||
Taxpayers | Tim Gallert | 2,003 | 2.60% | ||
Total votes | '76,975' | '100.0%' | -5.88% | ||
Republican hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Primary Election, September 12, 2000[16] | |||||
Democratic | Sara Lee Johann | 2,909 | 52.76% | ||
Republican | Alberta Darling (incumbent) | 2,574 | 46.68% | ||
Write-ins | 31 | 0.56% | |||
Total votes | '5,514' | '100.0%' | |||
General Election, November 7, 2000[17] | |||||
Republican | Alberta Darling (incumbent) | 57,041 | 65.88% | ||
Democratic | Sara Lee Johann | 29,396 | 33.95% | ||
Write-ins | 144 | 0.17% | |||
Total votes | '86,581' | '100.0%' | +12.47% | ||
Republican hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Primary Election, September 14, 2004[18] | |||||
Republican | Alberta Darling (incumbent) | 15,690 | 62.16% | ||
Democratic | Jennifer Morales | 9,405 | 37.26% | ||
Write-ins | 146 | 0.58% | |||
Total votes | '5,514' | '100.0%' | |||
General Election, November 2, 2004[19] | |||||
Republican | Alberta Darling (incumbent) | 55,731 | 56.94% | ||
Democratic | Jennifer Morales | 42,048 | 42.96% | ||
Write-ins | 100 | 0.10% | |||
Total votes | '97,879' | '100.0%' | +13.04% | ||
Republican hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Primary Election, September 9, 2008[20] | |||||
Republican | Alberta Darling (incumbent) | 12,493 | 58.63% | ||
Democratic | Sheldon Wasserman | 8,711 | 40.88% | ||
Write-ins | 106 | 0.50% | |||
Total votes | '21,310' | '100.0%' | |||
General Election, November 4, 2008[21] | |||||
Republican | Alberta Darling (incumbent) | 50,125 | 50.46% | ||
Democratic | Sheldon Wasserman | 49,118 | 49.45% | ||
Write-ins | 85 | 0.09% | |||
Total votes | '99,328' | '100.0%' | +1.48% | ||
Republican hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Primary Election, July 12, 2011[22] | |||||
Democratic | Sandy Pasch | 21,657 | 64.13% | ||
Democratic | Gladys Huber | 11,865 | 35.14% | ||
Write-ins | 246 | 0.73% | |||
Total votes | '33,768' | '100.0%' | |||
General Election, August 9, 2011[23] | |||||
Republican | Alberta Darling (incumbent) | 39,449 | 53.62% | ||
Democratic | Sandy Pasch | 34,071 | 46.31% | ||
Write-ins | 56 | 0.08% | |||
Total votes | '73,576' | '100.0%' | -25.93% | ||
Republican hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Primary Election, August 14, 2012[24] | |||||
Republican | Alberta Darling (incumbent) | 26,295 | 98.41% | ||
Write-ins | 426 | 1.59% | |||
Total votes | '33,768' | '100.0%' | |||
General Election, November 6, 2012[25] | |||||
Republican | Alberta Darling (incumbent) | 76,402 | 95.58% | ||
Write-ins | 3,532 | 4.42% | |||
Total votes | '79,934' | '100.0%' | +8.64% | ||
Republican hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Primary Election, August 9, 2016[26] | |||||
Republican | Alberta Darling (incumbent) | 8,565 | 96.12% | ||
Write-ins | 346 | 3.88% | |||
Total votes | '8,911' | '100.0%' | |||
General Election, November 8, 2016[27] | |||||
Republican | Alberta Darling (incumbent) | 77,331 | 95.51% | ||
Write-ins | 3,635 | 4.49% | |||
Total votes | '80,966' | '100.0%' | +1.29% | ||
Republican hold |
References
- Senator Alberta Darling (WI) Project VoteSmart. Accessed June 6, 2011
- "Who's who on the Joint Finance Committee Archived 2013-02-10 at Archive.today". Wausau Daily Herald, April 7, 2011. Accessed June 6, 2011
- http://legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/08/darling/about-alberta/. Missing or empty
|title=
(help) - http://archive.jsonline.com/news/obituaries/bill-darling-remembered-as-caring-doctor-state-senators-supportive-husband-b99471115z1-297939611.html/
- https://www.wispolitics.com/2020/201030report/
- https://www.tmj4.com/news/election-2020/alberta-darling-projected-to-keep-district-8-seat
- https://www.wispolitics.com/2020/201030report/
- "Senator Alberta Darling". Wisconsin State Legislature. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
- "Committee to Recall Darling". Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. March 9, 2011. Archived from the original on 12 April 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
- http://www.nbcnews.com/id/44075969/ns/politics-more_politics/t/democrats-fall-short-wisconsin-recall-elections/
- Barbour, Clay and Mary Spicuzza. "Republicans hold off Dems in recalls, win enough seats to keep majority in Senate". Wisconsin State Journal, August 10, 2011.
- http://www.nbcnews.com/id/44075969/ns/politics-more_politics/t/democrats-fall-short-wisconsin-recall-elections/
- Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1991-1992 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 899, 915. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1993-1994 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 900, 919. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1997-1998 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 888, 889. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- Results of Fall Primary Election - 09/12/2000 (PDF) (Report). p. 11. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2000 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. p. 6. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- Results of Fall Primary Election - 09/14/2004 (PDF) (Report). p. 12. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- Results of Fall General Election - 11/02/2004 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. p. 7. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- Results of Fall Primary Election - 09/09/2008 (PDF) (Report). p. 9. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- Results of Fall General Election - 11/04/2008 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. p. 6. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- Canvass Results for 2011 Primary Recall Election State Senate 8 - 7/12/2011 (PDF) (Report). p. 1. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- Canvass Results for 2011 Recall Election State Senate 8 - 8/9/2011 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. p. 1. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- Canvass Results for 2012 Partisan Primary (PDF) (Report). p. 7. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- Canvass Results for 2012 Presidential and General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. p. 5. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- Canvass Results for 2016 Partisan Primary (PDF) (Report). pp. 8, 9. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- Canvass Results for 2016 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. p. 6. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
External links
- Senator Alberta Darling at the Wisconsin State Legislature
- Alberta Darling official campaign site
- Biography at Ballotpedia
- Profile at Vote Smart
- 8th Senate District, Senator Darling in the Wisconsin Blue Book (2005–2006)
- 10th Assembly District, Representative Darling in the Wisconsin Blue Book (1991–1992)
- Appearances on C-SPAN