Incumbent Mayor Paul Soglin took over 70 percent of the votes as Madison re-elected its longtime mayor for his eighth term during Tuesday’s election.
As the votes came in, mayoral candidate and Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, conceded defeat shortly after 9 p.m.
“Scott Resnick called a short while ago, and he and I are in agreement about the conclusion of the race,” Soglin said during his victory speech at The Brink Lounge on East Washington Street. “The results of this election, I believe, show that [our commitment to making Madison a community for everyone] that some suspected in 2011 is going to become a reality.”
A little earlier, across the square at The Fountain bar, Resnick addressed the loss to his supporters.
“Obviously, this is not the outcome that anyone here hoped for, but I’m proud that we ran a clean race, an honest race, and stuck to the issue,” Resnick said during his concession speech at The Fountain bar on Capitol Square. “I am very glad of the race we ran and thank you so much for being out here tonight.”
During his announcement, Soglin re-affirmed the promises of his past terms as mayor.
“I made a commitment four years ago,” Soglin said. “I couldn’t live with myself if I abandoned issues where I tried to get the city focused, [like] poverty [and] dealing with equity. We have led the state in these past three-and-a-half years on economic growth ... We are going to continue to lead.”
By the end of the night, 72 percent of the city electorate voted to re-elect Soglin, according to the Dane County Clerk’s Office. Resnick followed with only 27 percent, most of his support coming from the UW-Madison campus area. Outside of that downtown area, most voters backed the returning mayor.
For some, Soglin’s re-election was inspiring. Others were hopeful Soglin’s victory meant he could follow through on past promises, like those to reduce homelessness and bridge Madison’s disparities.
“The guy really cares about the city,” said Virginia Farwell Zwickey, a long-time Madison resident. “We have a great leader now, and now we have to do our part.”
“He’s got some things he has left to do and I think he’ll do them,” said Ald. Ledell Zellers, District 2, who voted for Soglin. “I’m eager for what’s next.”
Though Soglin won a staggering majority of votes, not everyone was celebrating his re-election. For Jenny Tasse, the vice chair of the UW-Madison College Democrats, Soglin winning meant the changes Resnick campaigned for wouldn’t happen.
“I’m disheartened to see that the rest of the city wasn’t ready for the change that Resnick could have offered,” Tasse said. “I hope that over the next four years the mayor will work with members of his council as well as community members to ensure Madison is now and in the future a great city for all of its residents.”
In an uncontested race, UW-Madison student Zach Wood was elected as City Council’s next alder for District 8, a campus area. Additionally, Madison elected its first black women city council members. Challenger Sheri Carter won against incumbent John Strasser in District 14, while Barbara McKinney won against Matt Brink in District 1’s open race.
Dana Kampa and Jen Wagman contributed to this report.
