Gov. Scott Walker survives Wisconsin recall after more than a year of political turmoil

After a brief but bruising campaign that followed a fight over union rights and Wisconsin’s cash-strapped budget, voters in the narrowly divided state cast their ballots Tuesday to retain Gov. Scott Walker.

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June 5, 2012

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) reacts at his victory party in Waukesha, Wis. Walker defeated Democratic challenger Tom Barrett in a special recall election.

Morry Gash / AP

June 5, 2012

Del Elleason of Allenton, left, and Bruce Griswold of Mequon cheer as numbers continue to come in favor of Gov. Scott Walker at the Germantown Victory Center in Germantown, Wis.

John Ehlke / AP

June 5, 2012

Supporters watch results at the election night rally for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. Walker (R) becomes the first governor in American history to stay in office after a recall challenge.

Morry Gash / AP

June 5, 2012

Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett delivers his concession speech at his election night party in Milwaukee.

Jeffrey Phelps / AP

June 5, 2012

Supporters of Democratic candidate Tom Barrett wait at his election night party in Milwaukee.

Jeffrey Phelps / AP

June 5, 2012

A chalk sign on a road shows support for the recall of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker on Election Day. Opponents of Walker (R) forced a recall after the governor pushed to change the collective bargaining process for public employees in the state.

Andy Manis / Getty Images

June 5, 2012

A boy watches his mother paint "vote" on her car window on Election Day in Madison, Wis., in support of recalling Gov. Scott Walker.

Andy Manis / Getty Images

June 5, 2012

A citizen takes to the polls to cast her vote as a girl looks on.

Darren Hauck / Reuters

June 5, 2012

Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett campaigns at the Racine Labor Center in Racine, Wis.

John Gress / Reuters

June 5, 2012

Supporters for Tom Barrett react in Milwaukee after hearing people are still voting in Milwaukee.

Andy Manis / Getty Images

June 5, 2012

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R), who is facing a recall election, casts his vote on Election Day in Wauwatosa, Wis. The rematch with Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D), whom Walker defeated in a Republican sweep of the state in 2010, is the endgame of six months of bitter fighting in the Midwestern Rust Belt state over the union restrictions Walker proposed and enacted.

Karen Bleier / AFP/Getty Images

June 5, 2012

Gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett and his wife, Kris, line up to vote at the French Immersion School in Milwaukee. Wisconsin voters will decide on Tuesday whether to throw Governor Scott Walker out of office in a rare recall election forced by opponents of the Republican's controversial effort to curb collective bargaining for most unionized government workers.

John Gress / Reuters

June 5, 2012

Charles Lankford leaves a voting booth after casting a ballot in the Wisconsin recall election in Clinton, Wis.

Scott Olson / Getty Images

June 5, 2012

A voter takes to the polls in the recall election against Republican Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker in Milwaukee. The mural, showing a collage of visiting Hispanic artists who performed in the area, is located at the Hispanic Heritage Center in Milwaukee.

Darren Hauck / Reuters

June 5, 2012

Voters cast their ballots in a recall election for the governor and lieutenant governor at the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center in Madison, Wis.

Andy Manis / Getty Images

June 5, 2012

Stickers are handed out after voters cast their ballot in a recall election for the governor and lieutenant governor at the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center in Madison, Wis.

Andy Manis / Getty Images

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Chase Culp of Houston checks his clown makeup before the performance of Circus Smirkus on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012 in Montpelier, Vt. Circus Smirkus, based in Greensboro, Vt., is an award-winning international youth circus founded to promote the skills, culture and traditions of the traveling circus.(AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

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Cast member Charisma Carpenter poses at the premiere of 'The Expendables 2' at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California August 15, 2012. The movie opens in the U.S. on August 17. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT)

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Charisma Carpenter, Chuck Norris, Lionel Richie, Joe Jonas, Nelly, Alice Cooper and other celebrities.

US President Barack Obama drinks a Guinness beer at The Dubliner pub on March 17, 2012 in Washington. Obama went to the bar to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. AFP PHOTO/Brendan SMIALOWSKI (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

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Scanned from Post archive. Washington Senators baseball players Goose Goslin, Manush, Kukel. 9/21/1933. No other info. TWP Photo.

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Montreal Washington, of Kansas City, pets the dog she adopted, Friday, Aug. 10, during 'Tackle Pet Homelessness' at the Kansas City animal shelter in Kansas City, Mo.. Washington plans on naming the pit bull, Alexandra. The shelter is at capacity and is offering a $25 adoption special for all dogs 25 pounds or more. For the month of August, all cats are 'name your own price' and kitten adoptions are $50. (AP Photo/The Kansas City Star, Allison Long)

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LEWISBURG, WV - AUGUST 11: ( EDITORS NOTE: Image was created using the iPhone 4s with Snapseed's vintage filter) Two young boys sip a drink at the West Virginia State fair on August 11, 2012 in Lewisburg, West Virginia. People from across the region travel to the fair, which is celebrating its 88th year, and hosts various events including equestrian and livestock demonstrations along with a full compliment of carnival rides. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

iPhone snapshots at the West Virginia State Fair

An iPhone captures the fun at the West Virginia State Fair, in its 88th year. All images were created using the Snapseed photo-editing app&rsquo...

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