Democrats Aim to Tighten Control of Wisconsin Supreme Court

Tuesday's election could shift the court's ideological balance ahead of key decisions on abortion, redistricting, and other high-stakes issues.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:24pm

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A quiet, cinematic painting of an empty courtroom with a single wooden podium in the center, bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conceptually representing the high-stakes political battle over the Wisconsin Supreme Court.The Wisconsin Supreme Court election could have far-reaching implications for the state's political landscape, with control of the court's ideological balance at stake.Madison Today

Democrats are hoping to increase their control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court in Tuesday's election, which has focused heavily on abortion rights. Democratic-backed candidate Chris Taylor, a former state lawmaker, is facing off against Republican-supported Maria Lazar, a state Appeals Court judge. A Taylor victory would give liberals a 5-2 majority on the court until at least 2030, after they regained control in 2023 following 15 years of conservative dominance.

Why it matters

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is poised to play a pivotal role in a range of high-profile issues, including congressional redistricting, union rights, and abortion access. Democrats are eager to solidify their hold on the court ahead of the 2028 presidential election, when the court's rulings could again be in the national spotlight.

The details

In the race, Taylor has centered her campaign on abortion rights, criticizing Lazar for calling the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade 'very wise.' Lazar, who was supported by anti-abortion groups in her appeals court run, has accused Taylor of being a 'radical, extreme legislator' and a 'judicial activist.' While Taylor has had a significant fundraising and advertising advantage, Lazar has struggled to get her message out.

  • The election is taking place on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
  • Liberals took control of the state's top court in 2023, ending 15 years under a conservative majority.
  • Another conservative justice is retiring from the Wisconsin Supreme Court next year, giving liberals a chance to take a 6-1 majority if they win on Tuesday.

The players

Chris Taylor

A Democratic-backed candidate and former state lawmaker who also worked for Planned Parenthood. She is currently a state Appeals Court judge.

Maria Lazar

A Republican-supported candidate and state Appeals Court judge. She previously worked for four years under a Republican attorney general in the state Department of Justice, where she defended laws restricting abortion access and effectively ending collective bargaining for most public workers.

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What they’re saying

“Abortion is on the ballot.”

— Chris Taylor, Candidate

“Chris Taylor is a radical, extreme legislator and a judicial activist.”

— Maria Lazar, Candidate

What’s next

The winner of the election will be sworn in to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, where they will join the court's other justices in ruling on a range of high-stakes issues in the coming years.

The takeaway

The Wisconsin Supreme Court election has become a proxy battle in the broader fight over the future of abortion rights and other key issues in the state. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for the political landscape in Wisconsin and beyond.