2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court election
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April 7, 2026
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| Elections in Wisconsin |
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The 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court election will be held on April 7, 2026, to elect a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court for a ten-year term. Incumbent justice Rebecca Bradley chose not to seek re-election after serving on the court since October 2015. As only two candidates filed for this seat, the February 17 nonpartisan primary was not held. The filing deadline to appear on the ballot was January 1, 2026.
Bradley is associated with the conservative minority on the court, meaning that the 2026 election is not expected to affect the ideological majority of the court. However, a liberal victory would result in the court having a 5–2 liberal majority, further solidifying their majority until at least 2030.
Background
[edit]The Wisconsin Supreme Court tipped from a 4–3 conservative majority to a 4–3 liberal majority due to the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election, which at that time was the most expensive judicial election in history. The liberals retained their 4–3 majority in the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election, when that race became the most expensive judicial election in history. The incumbent in 2026, Rebecca Bradley, is a member of the conservative minority, and therefore the outcome of the election will not change the court's controlling ideology.
Bradley initially announced in April 2025 that she would run for re-election.[1] Political observers, however, noticed that she was not engaged in any fundraising activity for a re-election campaign, and on August 29, 2025, she announced she was withdrawing from the race.[2]
Historically, it has been rare for incumbents to lose reelection to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Due to this, open-seat races have generally been regarded as valuable opportunities to potentially alter the court's ideological composition.[3] Particularly since only 23 of the more than 136 previous elections held for the court have been for open seats.[4][a] It has also been rare for contested Wisconsin Supreme Court races to be held without the need for a primary.[4]
Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Maria Lazar,[b] Wisconsin Court of Appeals judge (2022–present)[6]
- Chris Taylor,[c] Wisconsin Court of Appeals judge (2023–present) and former state representative (2011–2019)[8]
Declined
[edit]- Rebecca Bradley,[d] incumbent Supreme Court justice (2015–present)[5]
- Lyndsey Boon Brunette, Clark County circuit judge and former Clark County district attorney (2012–2016)[10] (endorsed Taylor)[11]
- Pedro Colón,[e] Wisconsin Court of Appeals judge (2023–present) and former state representative (1999–2011)[13] (endorsed Taylor)[11]
- Sara Geenen,[f] Wisconsin Court of Appeals judge (2023–present)[9] (endorsed Taylor)[11]
- Gregory Gill,[g] Wisconsin Court of Appeals judge (2021–present)[14]
- Rachel Graham,[f] Wisconsin Court of Appeals judge (2019–present) (endorsed Taylor)[11]
Endorsements
[edit]- U.S. senators
- Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin (2013–present)[15]
- Judicial officials
- Pedro Colón, Wisconsin Court of Appeals judge (2023–present) and former state representative (1999–2011)[16]
- Susan Crawford, Wisconsin Supreme Court justice (2025–present)[17]
- Rebecca Dallet, Wisconsin Supreme Court justice (2018–present)[17]
- Sara Geenen, Wisconsin Court of appeals judge (2023—present)[16]
- Rachel A. Graham, Wisconsin Court of appeals judge (2019—present)[16]
- Jill Karofsky, Wisconsin Supreme Court justice (2020–present)[17]
- Janet Protasiewicz, Wisconsin Supreme Court justice (2023–present)[17]
- Labor unions
- Organizations
- Political parties
Polling
[edit]| Pollster | Dates administered |
Sample size[h] |
Margin of error |
Chris Taylor |
Maria Lazar |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marquette University Law School[25] | February 11–19, 2026 | 818 (RV) | ± 4.3% | 17% | 12% | 66% |
Fundraising
[edit]| Campaign finance reports as of February 2, 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Maria Lazar | $387,781 | $79,991 | $308,969 |
| Chris Taylor | $3,449,633 | $1,397,124 | $2,055,554 |
| Source: WI Ethics Commission[26] | |||
Results
[edit]| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maria Lazar | |||
| Chris Taylor | |||
| Write-in | |||
| Total votes | |||
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ (excludes elections to fill newly-created seats for which there was no incumbent)
- ^ Described by media outlets as conservative[5]
- ^ Described by media outlets as liberal[7]
- ^ Described by media outlets as conservative[9]
- ^ Described by media outlets as liberal[12]
- ^ a b Described by media outlets as liberal[9]
- ^ Described by media outlets as conservative[14]
- ^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
References
[edit]- ^ "Conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley planning to seek reelection in 2026". WisPolitics. April 4, 2025. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
- ^ Wagtendonk, Anya van (August 29, 2025). "Justice Rebecca Bradley will not seek reelection, setting up wide open Wisconsin Supreme Court race". WPR. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
- ^ Multiple sources:
- Ostermeier, Eric (April 11, 2011). "The Incumbency Advantage in Wisconsin Supreme Court Elections". Smart Politics. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
- Johnson, Shawn (April 14, 2020). "Jill Karofsky Wins Wisconsin Supreme Court Race, Defeating Conservative Incumbent". WPR. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
- ^ a b Ostermeier, Eric (January 13, 2025). "Wisconsin Supreme Court 2025 Election by the Numbers". Smart Politics (University of Minnesota). Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ a b Spicuzza, Mary; Bice, Daniel (August 29, 2025). "Conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley will not seek reelection". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
- ^ Spicuzza, Mary (October 1, 2025). "Maria Lazar launches Wisconsin Supreme Court campaign, taking over conservative lane from Rebecca Bradley". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
- ^ Beck, Molly (April 5, 2025). "Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley announces she'll seek another 10-year term". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- ^ Bauer, Scott (May 20, 2025). "Judge who previously fought for abortion rights wants to join Wisconsin Supreme Court". Associated Press. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley planning to seek reelection in 2026". WisPolitics. April 4, 2025. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
- ^ "Clark County judge tells WisPolitics she's passing on Supreme Court bid in '26". WisPolitics. May 2, 2025. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Taylor campaign: 100 current and former judges endorse Judge Chris Taylor for Wisconsin Supreme Court". WisPolitics. June 26, 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
- ^ "THU PM Update: Three liberals looking at run for Supreme Court following Bradley retirement". Wispolitics.com. April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
- ^ Nir, David; Singer, Jeff (April 17, 2025). "Morning Digest: New challenger to 12-term Democrat calls on 'next generation to step up'". The Downballot. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ a b Bice, Daniel; Spicuzza, Mary (August 29, 2025). "What happens now that Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley is not running for re-election?". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- ^ Hunt, Lucas (July 8, 2025). "Senator Tammy Baldwin endorses Judge Chris Taylor's 2026 state Supreme Court bid". Civic Media. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
- ^ a b c Releases, Wisconsin Press (June 26, 2025). "Taylor campaign: 100 current and former judges endorse Judge Chris Taylor for Wisconsin Supreme Court". WisPolitics. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Taylor campaign: Announces endorsements from Justices Rebecca Dallet, Jill Karofsky, Janet Protasiewicz and Justice-elect Susan Crawford". WisPolitics (Press release). May 21, 2025. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
- ^ "AFSCME Council 32: Endorses Judge Chris Taylor for Wisconsin Supreme Court". WisPolitics (Press release). February 18, 2026. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
- ^ "Taylor campaign: Wisconsin Laborers' District Council endorses Judge Chris Taylor for Wisconsin Supreme Court". WisPolitics (Press release). July 24, 2025. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
- ^ "Judge Chris Taylor for Wisconsin Supreme Court". WI AFL-CIO. October 10, 2025.
- ^ "EMILYs List: Endorses Justice Anita Earls and Judge Chris Taylor for North Carolina and Wisconsin state Supreme Courts". WisPolitics (Press release). August 20, 2025.
- ^ "Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin Endorses Judge Chris Taylor for Wisconsin Supreme Court". Urban Milwaukee (Press release). February 23, 2026. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
- ^ "Reproductive Freedom for All Endorses Judge Chris Taylor for Wisconsin State Supreme Court". Reproductive Freedom for All (Press release). February 4, 2026.
- ^ "WisDems Endorse Judge Chris Taylor For Wisconsin Supreme Court" (Press release). October 6, 2025.
- ^ Marquette Law School Supreme Court Poll February 11 - 19, 2026 (Report). Marquette University Law School. February 25, 2026. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
- ^ "Sunshine: Wisconsin Campaign Finance Supreme Court 2026 Spring General".
External links
[edit]- Official campaign websites