Governor Scott Walker from Wisconsin retained the governorship on Tuesday by beating Tom Barrett a Democrat. Walker had a recall vote against him because of his decision against public employee unions.

With over 83% of the voting precincts reporting Walker led Barrett, who is the current Milwaukee mayor, by a margin of 54% to 45%. In the 2010 election, Walker defeated Barrett by a similar 52 to 46.5% margin.

Walker gave his victory speech from his headquarters in Waukesha, Wisconsin and focused on his future as the governor and he said the win communicated a message to the entire nation. He said it proved that voters wanted candidates that could make tough decisions in real tough situations.

He expressed his desire to bring the state back together, starting with the legislature. He said that next week he would invite the entire legislature to have burgers, brats and some Wisconsin beer.

He said that tomorrow would be the start of a new time when we are all working as one, with no opponents. The win by Walker put a huge feather in the cap of the tea party movement. It rallied tea partiers around the state in support of Walker.

Last year Walker was the target of a recall by national and state labor groups, students, progressives and other who had viewed decisions he made for ending collective bargaining with state employees, as a direct attack on America’s middle class.

His efforts from Wisconsin have drawn support from fiscal conservatives, the tea party and a number of prominent Republicans around the nation who financially and personally supported him while in the recall race.