Heavy TV Spending in 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court Race

**Heavy TV Spending in 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court Race**

Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judges Maria Lazar and Chris Taylor are locked in a heated race for Rebecca Bradley's open seat on the state Supreme Court, with the April 7 nonpartisan election drawing millions in TV ad dollars. Taylor's campaign has poured an estimated $2.4 million into television spots, dwarfing Lazar's $201,000 spend by a 15-to-1 margin, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Outside groups like the American Civil Liberties Union have added $188,000 in support of Taylor, while spending remains far below last year's record $144 million Supreme Court contest.[4][3][6]

Both candidates hail from the appeals court—Lazar from District II in Waukesha and Taylor from District IV in Madison—and stress judicial independence, but their backings reveal stark divides. Taylor, a former Democratic lawmaker endorsed by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and the state Democratic Party, pushes a "pro-democracy" stance against gerrymandering. Lazar, backed by ex-Gov. Scott Walker and Wisconsin's six Republican U.S. House members, warns against liberals gaining a five-seat majority. A recent Marquette Law School Poll shows Taylor leading 23% to 17% among registered voters, with 53% undecided.[1][5][2]

For Milwaukee residents, this race shapes a court tackling abortion rights, redistricting, and criminal justice—issues hitting close to home in a city at the heart of southeastern Wisconsin's legal battles. The court's current 4-3 liberal tilt could grow to 5-2 with a Taylor win, influencing local policies on voting access and public safety for years.[11][6]

Voters can catch the rescheduled debate on April 2 at 7 p.m. on WISN 12 in Milwaukee, with early voting underway ahead of Election Day.[5]