Wisconsin Supreme Court Gains Liberal Majority
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has shifted to a 5-2 liberal majority after Chris Taylor’s significant win against Maria Lazar for a vacancy. Taylor, a Democrat, won by over 20 points in the statewide election, taking over from retiring conservative judge Rebecca Bradley.
This victory continues a trend, marking the fourth straight win for a liberal candidate in Wisconsin’s nonpartisan Supreme Court elections. In fact, Justice Janet Protasiewicz’s earlier win over Daniel Kelly in 2023 was pivotal, ending a 15-year stretch of conservative rule. Following that, Justice Susan Crawford’s success against Brad Schimmel in 2025 solidifies a 4-3 liberal majority until at least 2028.
The recently established liberal majority has already made impactful decisions, such as overturning the state’s abortion ban and mandating new congressional maps that supersede those crafted by Republican leaders.
It is important to reflect on the implications of the recent Wisconsin Supreme Court race alongside the special election in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District.
Context of the Wisconsin Supreme Court Race
With a liberal majority already in place, the stakes for the 2026 election were lower than might be expected. Spending for this race remained modest compared to the higher-stakes elections in 2023 and 2025, where record amounts were poured into the judicial contests. Lazar’s campaign had around $1.2 million while Taylor raised about $6.2 million, as per Wisconsin Ethics Commission data.
Liberal spending reached about $5 million, contrasting sharply with about $400,000 spent by Lazar and her conservative allies. In stark comparison, total spending in the previous year’s campaigns neared $99 million—almost double the $51 million record spend in 2023, as noted by the Brennan Center for Justice.
Interestingly, a recent Marquette University Law School poll showed that a majority of Wisconsin voters were still undecided on the 2026 candidates, with over half expressing uncertainty. Early voting also lagged behind last year’s race, with absentee voting dropping around 50% and early in-person voting down about 60% according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission. Notably, President Trump did not publicly endorse any candidates.
Democratic Gains in Georgia’s Special Election
The Democratic Party secured a considerable win in Georgia’s special election runoff, although it wasn’t without its challenges. Republican Clay Fuller triumphed over Democrat Sean Harris, but the narrow margin—56% to 44%—was less than what Republicans anticipated. After all, Fuller was buoyed by Trump’s support, yet the numbers were far less than the 29-point win enjoyed by Marjorie Taylor Greene in 2024.
This close finish could bolster Democrats’ confidence as they head into the 2026 midterms, where Senator Jon Ossoff is up for re-election.
Campaign Dynamics in Georgia
Sean Harris, a veteran who opposed the Iran war, emphasized this issue in her final push to voters. “There’s a sense of worry among families here in northwest Georgia about their loved ones being pulled into another endless conflict,” she commented. Her criticism of Trump’s threatening rhetoric regarding Iran as “dangerous” resonated with some voters.
Greene, who refrained from endorsing any candidate in the race, voiced her concern over Harris’s comments, urging Congress members to invoke constitutional measures against such statements. Meanwhile, Fuller praised Trump’s actions regarding Iran in a recent debate.
AIPAC, the influential pro-Israel political action committee, endorsed Fuller prior to the election, asserting that his victory contributes to a significant pattern in the current election cycle, with nearly 50 pro-Israel candidates backed by them across both parties.
