Wisconsin Supreme Court Election Pivots on Key Issues
In Wisconsin, a crucial election might shift the balance of the state Supreme Court further in favor of liberals. The race has brought attention to significant issues like abortion rights and congressional redistricting, which have placed the state in the national spotlight.
This election diverges from previous ones in the state, where national interest and spending soared due to the fight for majority control. Without the immediate threat to court control, the current election has seen a significant drop in both spending and attention.
The Democrats aim to solidify their influence on the court ahead of the November elections, where they will attempt to maintain the governor’s seat and gain control of the state Legislature, which has been Republican-dominated since 2011. This shift could potentially reverse a series of conservative laws established over the past decade.
Chris Taylor, a former state legislator and ex-Planned Parenthood employee, represents the Democratic interests in the Supreme Court race. She faces Maria Lazar, a Republican-backed candidate, with both contenders currently serving as state Appeals Court judges.
If Taylor prevails, the liberal majority on the court could expand to 5-2, ensuring a liberal hold until at least 2030. This shift follows the liberal takeover in 2023, ending a 15-year conservative reign, and the subsequent victory bolstered by figures like President Donald Trump, George Soros, and Elon Musk.
The 2025 election is being framed by liberals as pivotal for democracy, harking back to 2020 when the conservative court narrowly avoided siding with Trump in his bid to overturn the presidential election results.
With liberals in control, the court has reversed several key rulings, including those related to absentee ballots. This control positions the court as a significant player in the upcoming 2028 presidential election.
Despite the nonpartisan nature of Supreme Court races, candidate support often aligns with party lines. Taylor’s campaign has spotlighted abortion rights, contrasting her views with Lazar, who has been supported by anti-abortion groups and praised the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
The campaign trail has seen heated exchanges, with Lazar branding Taylor as a “radical, extreme legislator,” while Taylor accused Lazar of harboring a “right-wing political agenda.” Taylor’s campaign has benefited from a substantial fundraising advantage, allowing her to outspend Lazar significantly on television advertisements.
The liberal majority has already made impactful decisions, such as overturning the state’s abortion ban and mandating new legislative maps, fueling Democratic aspirations for the upcoming elections.
Before her judicial tenure starting in 2020, Taylor was a Democratic representative from Madison, while Lazar, a judge since 2015, previously served under a Republican attorney general, defending a controversial law that affected public workers’ collective bargaining rights.
The court is expected to hear further challenges to laws defended by Lazar, including voter ID requirements and abortion restrictions.
Democrats remain hopeful, reflecting on past Supreme Court victories where their candidates won decisively. With the current seat open due to a conservative justice’s retirement, and another retirement expected next year, liberals could potentially expand their influence to a 6-1 majority.
