Koschnick reacts to loss

OCONOMOWOC - Judge Randy Koschnick's bid to oust Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson came up short on Tuesday by a double-digit percentage point margin.

"I did my best to run a clean campaign, to keep it focused on the issues," Koschnick said.

Koschnick, a self-described judicial conservative, spent nearly half a year campaigning for the Supreme Court seat. He spent election night watching the results come in with a small group of family and friends at his home near Oconomowoc. Around 9:30, just minutes after the race was called by the Associated Press, Koschnick called Abrahamson to congratulate her on the victory

"I did the best that I could,” Koschnick said. “I worked very hard to keep this campaign clean, focused on the issues, so I can actually walk away feeling I did the best that I could. So, I can accept the decision of the voters"

Koschnick was outspent by Abrahamson by at least a 10-1 margin during the campaign. He says campaign financing played a major factor in Tuesday's results.

"I think money plays a big role in these races in being able to get your message out, on television primarily. With that big of a spending disparity, I do think that influences the outcome"

Koschnick has two years remaining on his term as circuit court judge in Jefferson County. He says he is not ruling out another run at the state's highest court.