Election Results

Local:
Assembly: John Murtha (R) -- apparently the only Repulican to win Assembly in WI that wasn't an incumbant
Sherriff: Dennis Hillstead (R) kept his position by a wide margin

State:
Attorney General: J.B. Van Hollen (R) barely won
Govenor: Doyle (D) kept his position
Marriage: Passed by a huge margin
Death Penalty: Passed by a wide margin

Federal:
3rd Congressional District: Ron Kind (D) kept his position by a huge margin
U.S. Senate: Kohl (D) kept is position by a huge margin (no surprise because the challenger didn't have much of a campaign)

Why are the Register of Deeds, Country Clerk, Treasurer, and District Attorney partisan positions? AFAIK they don't make policy so it doesn't seem important to me to which party they belong. I only care if they do a good job. Does anyone know why they are partisan?

Also, is one party controlling the House, Senate, and Presidency a sustainable position? How much has that happened in the past? I know that I am wary of it even when they are people that I support.