Wisconsin Voters to Choose New State Supreme Court Justice

Election will determine balance of court's liberal majority

Apr. 7, 2026 at 1:07am

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A serene, cinematic painting of the Wisconsin state capitol building, its grand architecture and imposing presence captured in warm, golden light and deep shadows, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation amidst the political tensions surrounding the upcoming state Supreme Court election.The Wisconsin state capitol building stands as a silent witness to the high-stakes political battles unfolding within its halls.Green Bay Today

Wisconsin voters will choose a new state Supreme Court justice on Tuesday in an election that will either maintain or expand the court's liberal majority. The race features two appeals court judges, Chris Taylor and Maria Lazar, vying to replace retiring conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley. The winner will join a panel that could play a key role in potential disputes related to the 2028 presidential election or congressional redistricting in the early 2030s.

Why it matters

This election is crucial for the ideological balance of Wisconsin's Supreme Court, which has had a liberal majority since 2023. The winner will serve a 10-year term and could be a deciding vote on high-stakes political issues in the coming years.

The details

In the race for the high court, state Appeals Court judges Chris Taylor and Maria Lazar are running. Taylor is a former Democratic state representative endorsed by the court's four sitting liberal justices, while Lazar served as assistant state attorney general under former Republican Gov. Scott Walker and is endorsed by conservative Justice Annette Ziegler.

  • Polls close at 8 p.m. local time (9 p.m. ET) on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
  • As of April 1, there were about 3.6 million active registered voters in Wisconsin out of about 4.5 million eligible voting-age adults.
  • Nearly 2.4 million votes were cast in the 2025 spring election for state Supreme Court, which was about 62% of registered voters.
  • As of Friday, nearly 281,000 ballots had already been cast in the current election.

The players

Chris Taylor

State Appeals Court judge and former Democratic state representative, endorsed by the court's four sitting liberal justices.

Maria Lazar

State Appeals Court judge who served as assistant state attorney general under former Republican Gov. Scott Walker, endorsed by conservative Justice Annette Ziegler.

Rebecca Bradley

Retiring conservative justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Annette Ziegler

Conservative justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court who announced she will not seek a third term in 2027.

Janet Protasiewicz

Liberal justice who won a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2023, helping the court gain a 4-3 liberal majority.

Susan Crawford

Liberal justice who joined the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2025, preserving the court's liberal majority.

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What’s next

The winner of the state Supreme Court race will be sworn in for a 10-year term. The court could play a key role in potential disputes related to the 2028 presidential election or congressional redistricting in the early 2030s.

The takeaway

This election is crucial for maintaining the Wisconsin Supreme Court's liberal majority, which could have significant implications for high-stakes political issues in the coming years.