2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court Race Shapes Election Rules

Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates Appeals Court Judges Maria Lazar and Chris Taylor are locked in a heated race that could reshape the court's ideological balance ahead of the 2028 presidential election. With early voting underway since March 24 and Election Day on April 7, the contest pits Lazar's conservative-backed emphasis on judicial experience against Taylor's liberal push for a "pro-democracy" court opposing gerrymandering and election challenges. A recent Marquette Law School Poll shows Taylor leading 23% to 17% among registered voters, though 53% remain undecided.[1][2][6]

Both candidates hail from the Wisconsin Court of Appeals—Lazar from District II in Waukesha and Taylor from District IV in Madison—but their paths diverge sharply. Taylor, a former Democratic state lawmaker and Planned Parenthood advocate, boasts endorsements from U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, and liberal justices like Jill Karofsky. Lazar, a Federalist Society speaker and ex-deputy attorney general under Republican J.B. Van Hollen, is supported by former Gov. Scott Walker and all six GOP U.S. House members from Wisconsin. Taylor has outspent Lazar 15-to-1 on TV ads, fueling one of the nation's priciest judicial races.[3][7][9]

For Milwaukee residents, the stakes hit close to home: the winner will tip the court's current 4-3 liberal majority, influencing rulings on absentee ballots, voter ID, redistricting, and reproductive rights that affect local elections and daily life in southeastern Wisconsin counties. A Taylor victory could solidify a 5-2 liberal edge, potentially easing voting access; Lazar's win would preserve the status quo, aligning with stricter election safeguards.[1][12][14]

Their rescheduled debate airs April 2 on WISN 12 in Milwaukee, offering voters a final chance to compare visions before polls close.[4][6]