UPDATED Wednesday, November 7, 1:12 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Wisconsin Republicans have reclaimed control of the state Senate, putting them a step away from free rein across state government once again.

Results from Tuesday's elections show Republicans captured an open seat and four incumbent Republicans fended off challengers, giving them the majority.

If Republicans hold their majority in the Assembly, they'll have complete control of state government again.

Republicans gained control of the governor's office, the Senate and the Assembly in 2010. But Democrats wrested control of the Senate from them in June's recall elections.

Democrats had forced Republican Gov. Scott Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and four GOP senators into the recalls as payback for Walker's law that stripped most public workers of nearly all their union rights.

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.

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Posted Tuesday, November 6, 2012 --- 11:13 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Republicans have captured an open state Senate seat that could propel them to a majority in the chamber and full control of state government.

According to returns tabulated by The Associated Press, state Rep. Tom Tiffany, a Hazelhurst Republican, was leading Susan Sommer, a Phelps Democrat, for the open seat in far northeastern Wisconsin's 12th Senate District by about 16 percentage points with a little more than three-quarters of precincts reporting.

Republicans need to defeat at least one Democratic incumbent or capture the 12th District as well as protect four GOP incumbent senators to seize control of the chamber. All four incumbents were leading their challengers late Tuesday.

Republicans already control the governor's office and are widely expected to retain their Assembly majority.

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.