Wisconsin Supreme Court Election Sees Decisive Democratic Wins

Four straight Democratic-backed candidates win seats, cementing liberal majority on state's highest court

Apr. 8, 2026 at 11:36pm

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A dynamic, abstract painting in bold, overlapping geometric waves of deep blue, forest green, and burnt orange, depicting the silhouette of a gavel in motion, conceptually representing the shifting power dynamics on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.The 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court election results signal a significant shift in the state's judicial landscape, with Democratic-backed candidates winning four straight races and creating a liberal majority on the high court.Green Bay Today

The 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court election saw a decisive victory for Democratic-backed candidate Chris Taylor, who won by a 20% margin - the largest margin of victory in 26 years. This marks the fourth straight election where a Democratic-backed candidate has won a seat on the state's high court, shifting the balance of power to a 5-2 liberal majority. The election results also showed a significant drop in overall voter turnout compared to the previous Supreme Court election in 2025.

Why it matters

The Wisconsin Supreme Court plays a crucial role in shaping the state's political landscape, with major implications for issues like abortion access, legislative redistricting, and other high-stakes policy debates. The shift to a liberal majority on the court could have far-reaching consequences, potentially overturning past conservative rulings and aligning the state's jurisprudence more closely with Democratic priorities.

The details

In the 2026 election, Chris Taylor defeated her opponent Judge Maria Lazar by a 20-point margin, receiving 60% of the vote. This marks the fourth consecutive election where a Democratic-backed candidate has won a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, following victories by Susan Crawford in 2025, Janet Protasiewicz in 2023, and Jill Karofsky in 2020. These wins have shifted the ideological balance of the court, creating a 5-2 liberal majority. However, the 2026 election saw a significant drop in voter turnout, with only around 1.5 million votes cast compared to nearly 2.4 million in the 2025 race.

  • The 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court election was held on April 7, 2026.
  • The Associated Press reported the final results on April 8, 2026, less than an hour after the polls closed.

The players

Chris Taylor

The newly elected Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice, who won her race by a 20-point margin.

Maria Lazar

The defeated candidate in the 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court election, who received 40% of the vote.

Susan Crawford

The Democratic-backed candidate who won a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2025, shifting the court's balance of power.

Janet Protasiewicz

The Democratic-backed candidate who won a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2023, further solidifying the court's liberal majority.

Jill Karofsky

The Democratic-backed candidate who won a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2020, marking the beginning of the court's ideological shift.

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What they’re saying

“The 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court election results demonstrate the continued shift in the state's political landscape, with Democratic-backed candidates winning four straight races and cementing a liberal majority on the court.”

— Chris Taylor, Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice-elect

“The amount of money and political capital poured into these Supreme Court races is concerning, as it threatens to undermine the impartiality of the judiciary.”

— Ann Walsh Bradley, Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice

What’s next

The 2027 and 2028 Wisconsin Supreme Court elections will be crucial in determining whether the court's liberal majority will be maintained or if conservatives will have an opportunity to regain control. The 2029 and 2030 elections will also be closely watched, as they could further solidify the court's ideological balance.

The takeaway

The 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court election results represent a significant shift in the state's political landscape, with Democratic-backed candidates winning four straight races and creating a 5-2 liberal majority on the court. This could have far-reaching implications for a wide range of policy issues in the state, and the upcoming elections will be closely watched as both parties vie for control of the state's highest court.