MADISON, Wis. -- With Barack Obama establishing a rock-solid lead in the presidential race in the state, incumbents and Democrats appeared to do well overall lower on the ballot in Wisconsin.

VIDEO: Madison School Superintendent Talks Referendum | VIDEO: U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan Wins Another Term In Congress | VIDEO: U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin Wins Another Term In House

Democrat U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin and Republican U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan both won re-election Tuesday to hold onto congressional seats in their districts, while state Democrats kept control of the state Assembly. A slate of local and school referenda were also up at area polling places.

The city of Madison and the Dane County Clerk's Office is estimating Election Day had a record-setting 80-percent turnout. This figure meant many people had to wait in lines on Tuesday, even those who voted early. Officials said that absentee ballots could top 700,000, which is 50 percent more absentee ballots submitted than the 2004 presidential election, WISC-TV reported.

Baldwin, Ryan Maintain Seats

Baldwin, 46, won her sixth term in Washington, D.C., by defeating political newcomer Republican Peter Theron in Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District race.

Baldwin had 69 percent of the vote to Theron's 31 percent with 99 percent of precincts reporting.

Theron is a math professor and computer programmer who took the semester off to concentrate on his campaign. It was the first time that he has run for political office.

The Wisconsin State Journal had endorsed Theron as the better choice for the 2nd Congressional District because of his views on the economy. Theron was highly critical of the federal government's $700 billion bailout for Wall Street as well as Baldwin's support of it. He spent the past two months making energy the top priority in his campaign.

"We saw a couple of weeks ago, Congress made a $700 billion joke. We're going to be paying for that for a number of years. That's why I ran, to highlight issues like that," Theron said.

Baldwin said that she voted for it but called the collapse a "complete repudiation" of the less-regulation, free-market philosophy.

Baldwin celebrated her victory Tuesday night before a huge crowd of Democrats at the Monona Terrace Convention Center. During her remarks, Baldwin said she was extremely grateful to her supporters and those who believe in Obama. She cited "epic challenges" facing the nation, but said his election was cause for hope and optimism.

"I also feel hope over the fact that Americans said we are going to reclaim our democracy," Baldwin said.

Baldwin's campaign platform highlights include health care reform, getting the troops out of Iraq, growing a "green" economy and reforming the nation's energy policy. Baldwin, who has represented the district since 1998, was the first openly gay person elected to Congress.

In Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District race, Republican Paul Ryan defeated Democratic challenger Marge Krupp by a nearly 2-to-1 margin. Ryan had 64 percent, Krupp had 35 percent and Joseph Kexel had 1 percent of the vote with 99 percent of precincts reporting.

Ryan has been serving the district since 1998 and has focused on addressing the nation's current financial crisis.

When asked about his feelings about working with a Democratic president, Ryan said Republicans should collaborate to come up with the best solutions.

"We shouldn't just say 'no' to everything. When the Dems are going in the right direction, let's work together. But when it is wrong, it is our obligation to come up with alternatives -- not just to say 'no' -- but, 'Here's how we'd do things differently,'" Ryan said.

On Tuesday night, the 38-year-old Janesville native resident thanked volunteers at Country Springs in Pewaukee, the site of the state Republican Party's election gathering. Ryan is one of three GOP members in the state's congressional delegation, along with U.S. Reps. Jim Sensenbrenner and Tom Petri.

The chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party said Ryan is a rising star in the Republican Party.

"Paul is the standard bearer of our party. He is the future of our party. He's going to win big and we can build our party around Paul Ryan very easily. He's the man," said Reince Priebus.

Krupp, a chemical engineer, touted her experience in the private sector and said she would help fix the ailing economy and address health care.

Democrats Nab Control Of State Assembly

In the state Legislature, Democrats have held onto their majority in the state Senate. Results from Tuesday's elections show 18 Senate seats will be held by Democrats and 14 by Republicans with one race undecided. That's between Republican Sen. Alberta Darling and Democratic Rep. Sheldon Wasserman in District 8.

WisPolitics.com reported that Assembly Democrats have picked up at least five GOP seats, enough to give them back the majority in the chamber for the first time since 1994, according to returns and interviews with operatives from both sides.

Both sides said Democrats have picked up the 2nd, 42nd, 57th, 68th and 92nd, according to WisPolitics.

Also, Jeff Wood has won re-election as an independent after leaving the GOP earlier this year, further cutting into the 52 seats Republican had held at the beginning of the legislative session.

Democrats hoped to capitalize on presidential hopeful Barack Obama's popularity and the economic meltdown and reclaim the chamber. Democratic control of the Assembly could reshape Wisconsin politics. Democrats currently control the state Senate, and Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle isn't up for re-election until 2010

In the 42nd Assembly District, Republican incumbent J.A. "Doc" Hines lost to his Democratic challenger Fred Clark. Hines was in the Assembly since 2001. Democrats also gained in the 92nd District in the Black River Falls area, in the 68th District in the Eau Claire area, the 2nd District near Green Bay and in the 57th District near Appleton.

However, the GOP was able to hold onto its seat in the 47th District in northern Dane County when Keith Ripp beat out Trish O'Neil by just 28 votes.

Democrats also appear poised to increase their majority in the state senate. They key races in the state Senate that could have turned instead stayed Republican.

Democrats would have needed a 22-seat majority in the chamber to be veto-proof, although that wouldn't likely be needed with a Democratic governor.

Voters Decide Referenda

There were also several local and school issues on the ballot on Tuesday, about 46 school referenda statewide, WISC-TV reported.

One of the biggest local school issues was a $13 million recurring referendum for the Madison Metropolitan School District that gives the district authority to spending limits each of the next three years.

Voters approved the measure 60 to 40 percent with 100 percent of precincts reporting.

The voters' approval means the district won't have to slash $8 million from the coming budget year. The plan, though, was always designed to be in partnership with taxpayers so the district will have to cut about $3 million.

Madison School Superintendent Dan Nerad said that it's a start.

"I feel good that we put a plan in place that balanced the needs of our kids with the needs of taxpayers, and we worked very hard to make sure we had a plan that could keep current plans in place as we redefined our priorities," said Nerad.

The referendum's approval means the average $250,000 home will see a $27 property tax increase in 2009, a $43 increase in 2010 and another $21 in 2011. The total average tax hike will be $91.50.

Supporters of the referendum celebrated their success at the Avenue Bar in Madison and say they thank taxpayers for being forward-thinking.

Assistant Superintendent of Business Erik Kass has said that the recurring referendum gives the district the authority to exceed spending limits each of the next three years, which will leave it with only a $4 million gap at the end of that time. Kass said that if a non-recurring plan were approved by both the board and voters, the district would be facing a $17 million shortfall at the end of those three years.

In Spring Green, an advisory referendum that would have shown public support for a $600,000 buyout plan to assist victims whose homes were damaged by June's flooding failed by 28 votes, with 498 voting against it and 470 supporting it.

If a majority of residents had backed the referendum, it would have opened the door to allow the township to borrow up to $600,000 to buy out the homes of 26 victims, including 20 dwellings in the Prairie View subdivision. The total cost of the buyout is $4.3 million.

Because the referendum was only an advisory measure, the town board of supervisors has the ultimate say on the plan regardless of the vote against the referendum. But several board members said that they will take into consideration residents' voices at the polls.

In Fitchburg, a referendum to spend up to $10 million on a new library has 55 percent support and 45 percent opposition with 83 percent reporting. But a Fitchburg referendum for $965,000 annually to operate the library has 52 percent opposed and 48 percent in favor with 83 percent reporting.

There were a total of 46 school referenda on ballots statewide.

A Sun Prairie School District referendum that asked for $3.9 million to build a swimming pool at the new high school passed 53 to 47 percent. Another Sun Prairie schools referendum for $288,205 annually for pool maintenance was approved 51 to 49 percent.

An Oregon schools referendum to exceed levy limits and sped $400,000 annually for 10 years starting in 2010 for safety, security and property enhancements and basic maintenance passed 60 percent to 40 percent. The referendum means about $10 more per year in taxes on a $200,000 home.

A Lodi schools referendum to exceed levy limits and spend $875,000 over three years for maintenance and improvements, including adding a foreign language program, passed 51 to 49 percent. The referendum increases the taxes on a $100,000 home by $76.

A Clinton schools referendum for $9.6 million to repair elementary and middle schools failed by 18 votes, with 1,430 opposing it and 1,412 supporting it.

A Boscobel schools referendum to exceed levy limits and spend $1.65 million over three years passed 53 to 47 percent.

In Jefferson, there isn't an official decision on two school referenda questions with six out of nine precincts reporting. The first measure, which sought to exceed levy limits by $1.2 million over five years to work on the 10-year capital projects list, was voted down by a 57-to-43 margin

The second referendum was seeking almost $40 million to build a new swimming pool. It too received a no vote by a 58-to-42.margin.

Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.