Final answer:
In 2012, Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin survived a recall election, which is a form of direct democracy allowing voters to remove an elected official. This event highlighted both the political engagement of the state's citizens and the costly nature of recall elections.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 2012, Wisconsin made history when Governor Scott Walker became the first governor to survive a recall election. The recall was a direct democratic action taken by voters who were dissatisfied with Walker's policies, particularly his approach to reducing the collective bargaining abilities of unions. Despite the contentious atmosphere and the over $60 million spent on the election, Walker successfully retained his seat as the governor.
This significant political event demonstrated the power of recall as a function of direct democracy within the United States, as well as highlighting the political dynamics of Wisconsin during that period. Walker's survival in the recall election emphasized the challenges and expenses involved in such democratic processes.