Wisconsin Supreme Court race shapes election policy
The 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court election on April 7 will determine the state's approach to critical election issues including the 2028 presidential election and absentee voting regulations. Candidates Maria S. Lazar and Chris Taylor are competing to fill the seat of retiring Justice Rebecca Bradley, with significant spending already underway.
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Wisconsin voters will choose between two starkly different visions for the state Supreme Court on April 7, with the winner potentially reshaping how the court handles election policy and voting rights for the next decade.[1][6] Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor and Appeals Court Judge Maria Lazar are competing to fill the seat left vacant by retiring Justice Rebecca Bradley, and their contrasting judicial philosophies will likely determine the court's stance on gerrymandering, absentee voting, and election integrity.[1][6]
The race has already become one of the most expensive judicial elections in the nation, with Taylor significantly outpacing Lazar in campaign spending.[3] Taylor has raised $2 million compared to Lazar's $198,000, and she has secured endorsements from four current Wisconsin Supreme Court justices, Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, and major labor organizations.[14] Lazar, meanwhile, is backed by former Republican Governor Scott Walker and the state's six Republican members of Congress.[1] A Marquette Law School Poll from mid-March shows Taylor leading with 23% support among registered voters, while Lazar has 17%, with 53% still undecided.[2]
The outcome carries profound implications for Milwaukee and Wisconsin residents. If Taylor wins, the court's liberal majority would expand to 5-2, likely strengthening protections for voting access and limiting partisan gerrymandering.[12] If Lazar prevails, the court would maintain its current 4-3 liberal majority but face a more ideologically divided bench on election-related cases.[12] Both candidates emphasize judicial independence, but Taylor calls for a "pro-democracy court opposed to gerrymandering," while Lazar stresses the need for impartiality and traditional judicial experience.[1][6]
The candidates will debate on April 2 at WISN 12's Milwaukee studios, giving voters a final chance to hear their positions before Election Day.[6] Early voting is already underway, with ballots available through April 7.