Wisconsin Voters to Decide Ideological Balance of State Supreme Court

Closely watched race could maintain or widen the court's liberal majority for years to come.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 5:40pm

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A serene, cinematic painting of the Wisconsin State Capitol building, its grand architecture and dome bathed in warm, golden light and deep shadows, conveying a sense of political history and tension.The Wisconsin State Capitol stands as a symbol of the state's political battleground, where the ideological balance of the Supreme Court hangs in the balance.Madison Today

Wisconsinites will vote on Tuesday for a new state Supreme Court justice in a race that could maintain or widen the court's liberal majority. The seven-member body has resolved disputes between the GOP-controlled state legislature and the Democratic governor, and the outcome could impact future election and redistricting-related litigation.

Why it matters

Wisconsin is a battleground state, with Democrats winning four of the last five Supreme Court elections by large margins, even as the state has remained politically divided. The ideological balance of the court is at stake, with implications for issues like abortion rights and democracy protection.

The details

Democratic-aligned Judge Chris Taylor and Republican-backed Judge Maria Lazar are competing for an open seat to replace retiring conservative-aligned Justice Rebecca Bradley. Taylor is a former Dane County judge and Democratic lawmaker, while Lazar is a former Waukesha County judge and assistant attorney general under former GOP Gov. Scott Walker. Though the race is nominally nonpartisan, the candidates have received high-profile endorsements from political figures.

  • Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central time on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
  • The new term will take effect on August 1, 2026.

The players

Chris Taylor

A former Dane County Circuit Court judge and former Democratic lawmaker representing deep-blue Madison in the state assembly.

Maria Lazar

A former Waukesha County Circuit Court judge and assistant attorney general during former Republican Gov. Scott Walker's tenure.

Rebecca Bradley

The retiring conservative-aligned Wisconsin Supreme Court justice.

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What they’re saying

“a radical, extreme legislator”

— Maria Lazar, Candidate

“right-wing political agenda”

— Chris Taylor, Candidate

What’s next

The new justice will take office on August 1, 2026, and could potentially hear election or redistricting-related litigation in the future.

The takeaway

This closely watched race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court could have significant implications for the ideological balance of the state's highest court, with potential impacts on issues like abortion rights and democracy protection.