Patrick Marley and Molly Beck

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

MADISON - Gov. Scott Walker conceded to Democrat Tony Evers on Wednesday, a day after he narrowly lost his bid for a third term to the state schools superintendent.

In his first post-election appearance, Evers said he looked forward to working with Republicans in the Legislature to find bipartisan solutions.

“We have every confidence in the results last night and we’ve seen a lot of enthusiasm about the race and the win that we had last night and the excitement about what’s coming to Wisconsin,” Evers said.

Speaking alongside his running mate, Mandela Barnes, Evers said he would roll out his transition plans in the coming days.

In a statement, Walker acknowledged he had lost his bid for a third term after winning two regular elections and one recall election over the last eight years.

"Thanks to Tony Evers for his gracious comments on our call today," the GOP governor said in his statement. "I offered the full support of my staff and our cabinet as he begins the transition process."

Walker made his concession a day after his lieutenant governor, Rebecca Kleefisch, held out the possibility of a recount.

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In a brief talk with reporters at the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County, Evers told reporters he had reached out to Republican legislative leaders, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos of Rochester and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau.

"I’m eager to begin work with them in the near future on (finding) ways to solve the problems that are facing the state of Wisconsin and finding long-term bipartisan solutions on things that people care about like roads and ensuring we have a good public education system and health care," Evers said.

Vos said he congratulated Evers.

"I would like to assure the citizens of Wisconsin that we will do our best to find common ground when possible," Vos said in a statement that also thanked Walker for his years of public service.

Fitzgerald declined to speak with reporters but is slated to talk to journalists on Thursday.

Walker in his statement thanked God, his campaign staff, his longtime volunteers and his family, including his pastor father, Llewlyn Walker, who died a month before the election.

"It was odd not having my Dad physically with me on Election Day," Walker said in his written statement. "I know, however, that he is with our Heavenly Father and that brings me comfort for the future."

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RELATED:Llewellyn Scott Walker, father of Gov. Scott Walker, dies

He said it has been an honor to serve the state for the past eight years.

"We’ve come a long way together and it is my sincere hope that the progress we’ve made during our time in office will continue and that we can keep Wisconsin working for generations to come," his statement said.

At Walker's election-night party, Kleefisch early Wednesday told supporters a recount was likely in the race for governor. She spoke as absentee ballots were being counted in Milwaukee and believed Walker had a lead at that point, according to Walker's campaign.

The final unofficial tally showed Evers with a lead of more than 30,000 votes.

"After inquiring further about the additional ballots in Milwaukee, Friends of Scott Walker determined that any change in the result would not be significant enough to determine the outcome of the election, despite its close margin and questions about how the city of Milwaukee executed its election night operations," said a statement from Walker's campaign.

The Milwaukee Election Commission acknowledged Wednesday that about 2,000 absentee ballots were damaged and had to be reconstructed, but said it followed state law and did so in a transparent way. Some ballots had to be reconstructed because they were marked with pencils instead of pens or because adhesive from envelopes got on the ballots, according to the commission.

Two election workers were involved in reconstructing each ballot and observers from all political parties and the public were able to watch the process, according to the commission.

Evers will have to step down as schools superintendent before he is sworn in as governor on Jan. 7.

Wisconsin Elections Commission spokesman Reid Magney said Walker could call a special election to replace Evers if he resigns in the coming weeks. If Evers resigns right before he becomes governor, he can call the election himself.

Aides to Walker and Evers did not say when they expected to hold a special election.

Evers could appoint an interim replacement at the Department of Public Instruction before he is sworn in as governor, a spokesman for the DPI said this week.

RELATED:Scott Walker campaign eyes Milwaukee's damaged absentee ballots in deciding on recount

Mary Spicuzza of the Journal Sentinel staff in Milwaukee contributed to this report.

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