BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Midwest has seen its share of recent battles over so-called right-to-work legislation. But the issue appears to be ebbing even after sweeping election victories by Republicans.

At the Republican Governors Association meeting here, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who made a name for himself by pushing through curbs on public sector unions, said he won’t focus on right-to-work legislation for the private sector as he starts his second term. In an interview, the governor said such a fight would be a distraction from other issues such as tax cuts and education, particularly in a state where few private sector workers are unionized.