Liberal judge Chris Taylor wins Wisconsin Supreme Court seat, expanding liberal majority to 5-2.
Victory continues a trend of liberal judicial wins in Wisconsin since 2019, locking in a liberal majority until at least 2030.
The low-key race saw Republican concession and minimal GOP donor involvement, contrasting with previous high-stakes, heavily funded contests.
📖 Full Retelling
Chris Taylor, a liberal Wisconsin judge, won a seat on the state Supreme Court on Tuesday in the latest strong election for liberals since President Donald Trump’s return to office.
Taylor, a former Democratic state representative and current state appellate judge, defeated conservative appeals court judge Maria Lazar in the race for the ten-year term. Her win expands liberals’ majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court to a 5-2 split.
Her win comes amid a string of special election victories for Democrats that suggests a difficult political environment for the GOP heading into November’s midterms.
Conservatives haven’t notched a Wisconsin Supreme Court victory since a narrow 6,000-vote win in 2019. In the years since, liberal judges Jill Karofsky, Janet Protasiewicz, Susan Crawford — and now Taylor — have romped to easy wins in a Wisconsin spring electorate trending firmly to the left. Assuming every justice finishes out their terms, the win locks in a liberal court majority until at least 2030.
Taylor’s win doesn’t come as a surprise. In the days before the Tuesday election, Wisconsin Republicans conceded Lazar stood little chance of victory , with GOP donors refraining from pulling out their checkbooks and the majority not at stake in this election.
The election attracted far less attention than last year’s race, where Crawford beat her conservative opponent by over 10 points. That race saw Elon Musk — the world’s richest man and a Republican megadonor — pour millions into an effort to defeat Crawford, arguing the fate of “Western civilization” was at stake in the race.
The court’s liberals have made use of their majority in recent years. In 2023, the court ordered new legislative maps in Wisconsin, effectively ending a GOP gerrymander that had lasted for over a decade. And last July, the panel overturned Wisconsin’s 176-year-old abortion ban by a 4-3 majority.
Also last year, the court ruled that Democratic Gov. Tony Evers could use hi
🏷️ Themes
Judicial Elections and Political Shifts, Partisan Dynamics in State Courts
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is the highest and final court of appeals in the state judicial system of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As the highest court, the Supreme Court hears appeals of lower Wisconsin court decisions. Its decisions are binding on lower courts.
This election matters because it solidifies liberal control of Wisconsin's highest court for years to come, affecting rulings on critical issues like voting rights, redistricting, and abortion access. It signals continued Democratic momentum in a key battleground state that could influence national politics. The outcome impacts Wisconsin residents directly through court decisions and affects national political strategies as both parties assess the state's shifting electorate ahead of November's elections.
Context & Background
Wisconsin Supreme Court has become increasingly polarized along partisan lines in recent years
Conservatives haven't won a Wisconsin Supreme Court election since a narrow 2019 victory
Liberal judges Jill Karofsky, Janet Protasiewicz, and Susan Crawford have all won decisive victories since 2020
In 2023, the court ordered new legislative maps ending a GOP gerrymander that lasted over a decade
Last year's race saw Elon Musk pour millions into trying to defeat liberal candidate Susan Crawford
Wisconsin spring elections have shown a clear trend toward liberal voting patterns
What Happens Next
The liberal majority will likely continue shaping Wisconsin law through rulings on pending cases, particularly around voting rights and redistricting. The court's composition is now locked until at least 2030 unless unexpected vacancies occur. Political attention will shift to November's midterm elections where Democrats will try to capitalize on this momentum. Republicans may reassess their judicial election strategy in Wisconsin given their continued losses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Wisconsin Supreme Court election?
Chris Taylor, a liberal appellate judge and former Democratic state representative, defeated conservative judge Maria Lazar to win a ten-year term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
What does this mean for the court's balance?
Taylor's victory expands the liberal majority to 5-2, solidifying liberal control of the court for the foreseeable future. This majority is now locked in until at least 2030 assuming all justices serve their full terms.
Why was this election less contentious than last year's?
This race attracted less attention because the court's majority wasn't at stake—liberals already controlled the court. Republican donors largely stayed out, and the outcome was widely anticipated, unlike last year's expensive, high-profile race.
What impact has the liberal majority had recently?
In 2023, the liberal-majority court ordered new legislative maps that ended a Republican gerrymander lasting over a decade. The majority has influenced rulings on voting rights, election laws, and other contentious issues in Wisconsin.
What does this mean for Wisconsin politics?
The victory continues a trend of liberal success in Wisconsin judicial elections and suggests ongoing challenges for Republicans in the state. It may influence both parties' strategies heading into the November midterm elections.
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Original Source
Chris Taylor, a liberal Wisconsin judge, won a seat on the state Supreme Court on Tuesday in the latest strong election for liberals since President Donald Trump’s return to office.
Taylor, a former Democratic state representative and current state appellate judge, defeated conservative appeals court judge Maria Lazar in the race for the ten-year term. Her win expands liberals’ majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court to a 5-2 split.
Her win comes amid a string of special election victories for Democrats that suggests a difficult political environment for the GOP heading into November’s midterms.
Conservatives haven’t notched a Wisconsin Supreme Court victory since a narrow 6,000-vote win in 2019. In the years since, liberal judges Jill Karofsky, Janet Protasiewicz, Susan Crawford — and now Taylor — have romped to easy wins in a Wisconsin spring electorate trending firmly to the left. Assuming every justice finishes out their terms, the win locks in a liberal court majority until at least 2030.
Taylor’s win doesn’t come as a surprise. In the days before the Tuesday election, Wisconsin Republicans conceded Lazar stood little chance of victory , with GOP donors refraining from pulling out their checkbooks and the majority not at stake in this election.
The election attracted far less attention than last year’s race, where Crawford beat her conservative opponent by over 10 points. That race saw Elon Musk — the world’s richest man and a Republican megadonor — pour millions into an effort to defeat Crawford, arguing the fate of “Western civilization” was at stake in the race.
The court’s liberals have made use of their majority in recent years. In 2023, the court ordered new legislative maps in Wisconsin, effectively ending a GOP gerrymander that had lasted for over a decade. And last July, the panel overturned Wisconsin’s 176-year-old abortion ban by a 4-3 majority.
Also last year, the court ruled that Democratic Gov. Tony Evers could use hi
