the senator is leading by 2% of the vote over challenger jessica king. this was expected to be a win for the democrats. but those are the numbers. hopper in with 22,788. and jessica king in at 22,212. 51% to 49%. and we ve also got a very interesting race. in the 8th district, suburban milwaukee, alberta darling is trailing at this hour to challenger representative sandy pasch by 8% of the vote. pasch in with 12,032 votes at 56%. and roberta darling in with that number you that saw on the screen there, with 44% of the votes. so it s still a very good chance for the democrats to get three. but the surprise here is the showing of randy hopper, the state senator.
influence, which is only going to make the other side have to work a heck of a lot harder and pay closer attention to detail. there are some disappointed people here tonight. no doubt. right now, ed, we ve got 82% of precincts reporting. the margin remains the same right now. incumbent republican senator alberta darling still with a 53% to 47% lead. at 82% of precincts reporting over her democratic challenger, sandy pasch. i also want to let you know, ed, that the democratic party of wisconsin chairman, mike tate, has just issued a statement. he says following evidence of election tampering in the 8th state senate district race, i ll read you the statement. the race to determine control of wisconsin s senate has fallen into the hands of the waukesha county clerk, who has already distinguished herself as incompetent if not worse. she is once more tampering with the results of a consequential election, and in the next hours we will determine our next course of action. for now wiscon
big money, that if you pay attention to detail, if you re brilliant on the basics, if you do the door to door, the social networking, you get the boots on the ground, you engage every possible group you possibly can, that you can win. and the amount of money that has been poured into all of these districts is absolutely unparalleled on a state level. and it s going to be upwards of $40 million. and in the district that is in question right now that you are reporting on, the 8th district, alberta darling had over $8 million put behind her, much of it outside money, to save that seat. and so whereas it s been a real gallant effort and 20% of the vote has not yet been counted and i don t think we re going to have a result until tomorrow, it just signals to the country how tough it s going to be, how close we are, how closely divided we are in this country when it comes to the issues. it really is one night for the archives politically for this country and for the state of wisconsin. ed,
challenger sandy pasch is still too close to call at this hour. right now with 80% of precincts reporting sandy pasch, the democratic challenger, with 47% of the vote, and the incumbent republican senator alberta darling with 53% of the vote. it s all down to district 8. ed schultz is in madison, wisconsin right now, and he joins us live. ed, my friend, tell me how you are feeling and what the mood is like right now in madison about this outstanding race in district 8. well, there is an air of disappointment here, rachel. there s no question about it. but looking at the glass half full, the democrats here are saying, hey, we picked up two seats, which was going to be a heavy lift to start with. these are all republican districts. they won two counties, two districts that they thought they were going to win. and that is district 18 and district 32, where they defeated randy hopper, defeated dan kapanke. but as you ve been reporting, now alberta darling has pulled out in front. and i m
when democrats have a backbone and stand strong like the wisconsin 14 did, the grassroots will come out, thousands of people will knock on doors, and that s exactly what democrats need. so this is a big political proposition that we are proving here tonight. we continue to follow district 8. sandy pasch is leading alberta darling. and also in district 18. s too close to call..that so two democrats are still in the hunt. three republicans have been declared the winners tonight. the last word with lawrence o donnell continues here on msnbc. i m ed schultz reporting live from madison, wisconsin. stay with us. so much more coming up.