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===May 2012===
*'''May 2, 2012''' Walker, who had spent $20,854,000 by this point in the recall, became the single biggest spender in Wisconsin's election history. <ref> Mary Bottari, [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/05/11494/walker-raises-and-spends-more-money-any-candidate-wisconsin-history/ "Walker Raises and Spends More Money than Any Candidate in Wisconsin History"], ''PR Watch'', May 2, 2012.</ref> As of April 23, 2012, when campaign finance reports were due to the Government Accountability Board, Walker had raised $25.3 million, 57% of which was from out of state. Barrett had raised $993,845, 48% of which was from out of state..<ref> Tom Kertscher,[http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/a-look-at-outofstate-donors-for-recall-race-dh5f4bm-152696495.html/ "A look at out-of-state donors for recall race"], ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'', May 22, 2012.</ref>
*'''May 8, 2012''' Wisconsin voters chose Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett to run against incumbent Walker in the primary for the first gubernatorial recall election in the state's history on May 8, 2012. Barrett got 58% of the vote. He was trailed by Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk at 34%, State Senator Kathleen Vinehout at 4%, and Secretary of State Doug Lafollette at 3%. Wisconsin State Firefighters President, [[Mahlon Mitchell]], easily bested two lesser-known candidates for the right to run in the recall against Republican Lieutenant Governor [[Rebecca Kleefisch]]. Walker faced a symbolic challenge from self-described (and attired) "Lincoln" Republican Arthur Kohl-Riggs, who received 3% of the vote in the Republican primary. Active campaigning by Walker and full mobilization by right-wing talk radio pumped up voter turnout in the Republican primary to unexpected levels.<ref> Mary Bottari [http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/05/11503/rematch-barrett-face-walker-historic-recall-election Rematch! Barrett to Face Walker in Historic Recall Election], [http://www.prwatch.org PRWatch], May 9, 2012</ref> Along with the recall primaries for Governor and Lt. Governor, there were primaries for the four recalled State Senate seats. Each of the Democrats who were running to challenge the recalled Republican Senators faced challenges by "fake" Democrats, whose campaigns were funded by the Republican Party. None of the "fake" Democrats won their primaries, but some got as much as 36% of the vote. Wisconsin has open primaries, where anyone can choose which primary to vote in. There was a concerted effort by right-wing talk radio and other organizations to get Republicans to go out and vote for the "fake" democrats, hoping to prevent the true Democrats from making it to the general election.<ref>Democratic Party of Wisconsin, [http://www.wisdems.org/news/blog/view/2012-04-know-the-real-democrats Know The Real Democrats], organizational website, April 26, 2012.</ref>
