Madison, Wis. – As voters head to the polls this morning, lower-ballot contests are sure to influence turnout. In Democrat-leaning Milwaukee, for instance, the race to fill the remainder of Scott Walker’s county-executive term is a bare-knuckles brawl. State Rep. Jeff Stone, a Republican, faces liberal Chris Abele. Walker’s bill has been a key issue in the campaign. Abele, a wealthy philanthropist, has tied Stone to Walker at every turn:

Stone, for his part, has also played hardball:

Here in Madison, there is a hot mayoral race, where two progressives are fighting over who would better stand up to Walker. Statewide turnout is expected to be around 20 percent, but if turnout is high in liberal Dane County, Justice David Prosser might be in trouble.