Chris Taylor wins Wisconsin Supreme Court race, growing liberal majority

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The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s liberal majority will grow after state Appeals Judge Chris Taylor was elected to a 10-year term Tuesday.

Her victory over her conservative opponent, Appeals Judge Maria Lazar, was declared by the Associated Press at 8:36 p.m. All results are unofficial until they’re certified in coming weeks.

Addressing supporters at a watch party in downtown Madison less than an hour after the race was called Tuesday night, Taylor said her victory was about democracy.

“Once again, Wisconsin, we showed the entire nation that we believe that the people should be at the center of government and the priority of our judiciary,” she told the crowd.

A woman speaks at a podium, smiling, as a crowd behind her holds signs reading Judge Chris Taylor Supreme Court near an American flag.

Judge Chris Taylor begins her acceptance speech Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at the Madison Concourse Hotel in Madison, Wis. Angela Major/WPR

Taylor’s victory means that liberals will expand their majority to 5-2, effectively securing their ideological advantage until at least 2030. In recent years, the high court has handed down major decisions expanding abortion rights and overturning Republican-drawn legislative maps, and is expected to weigh in on important voting rights and labor cases.

But regardless of the night’s outcome, liberals would have held on to their 4-3 majority — first established with the high-profile election of Justice Janet Protasiewicz in 2023, and defended last year, when Justice Susan Crawford emerged victorious from the most expensive court race in American history.

In the face of lower stakes, Taylor’s campaign received comparatively less fanfare. Fundraising, early voting and turnout numbers were much lower than in recent years.

But the financial advantage was nonetheless Taylor’s, as her campaign raised much more than Lazar, and outspent Lazar 6-to-1.

A group of people indoors smile and cheer, some wearing campaign buttons and stickers, suggesting a celebratory or political event.

Attendees cheer as Judge Chris Taylor speaks at her election night event Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at the Madison Concourse Hotel in Madison, Wis. Angela Major/WPR

Taylor described her campaign as one about energizing ordinary Wisconsinites.

“People are hungry for a government that works for them,” she said. “People are hungry for a judiciary that … protects our rights, that affords all Wisconsinites equal justice under the law.”

And without naming President Donald Trump, she framed her win in the context of national politics.

“Politics has no place in the judiciary, and the judiciary is not a rubber stamp for any party, group or branch of government — including the federal government,” she said to cheers.

Taylor’s campaign was seemingly on sure footing from the moment she announced her candidacy. She got into the race in May and, within weeks, had earned the endorsement of the four sitting liberal justices, insulating her from any challenge from the left. Those justices joined Taylor at her victory party Tuesday night.

Four women stand together indoors, smiling and holding hands, appearing to celebrate or congratulate each other.

Judge Chris Taylor, right, is greeted by Wisconsin Supreme Court justices during her election night event Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at the Madison Concourse Hotel in Madison, Wis. Angela Major/WPR

By contrast, Lazar was a relative latecomer to the race. She emerged as the conservative contender in October, after conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley announced that she would not run for reelection, setting up a surprise open race.

Lazar’s election night party was more subdued, with reporters outnumbering around 30 supporters who talked quietly in the ballroom of the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee while country music played softly from overhead speakers. At around 9:30 p.m., Lazar walked in and moved from supporter to supporter, shaking hands and hugging them. She could be heard saying “don’t be sad” and that “when a door closes, a window opens.” She took the stage and told the group she’d conceded the race to Taylor.

“I want to tell you that I could not have been more honored, more proud, more pleased, more humbled to be your candidate in this race,” said Lazar. “And I want to tell you not to fret, not to be upset, not to be sad. We can do that a little bit later.”

Two women wearing red sweaters with white stars hug each other in a crowded indoor setting, while other people stand and talk in the background.

Conservative Judge Maria Lazar, left, hugs a supporter at her election night party at the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee on April 7, 2026. Lazar lost her Wisconsin Supreme Court race to liberal Judge Chris Taylor.Rich Kremer/WPR

Lazar said she’s proud to have run her race with transparency, integrity and honesty.

“This has been an uphill battle,” said Lazar. “But I don’t think that I’ve run this race for no purpose. … We will keep fighting to put judges — good, talented judges — with experience on the bench, and we will not take the status quo.”

Within the hour, the Ingleside’s ballroom was empty save for three supporters and more than a dozen reporters.

Things won’t get easier for conservatives any time soon. They’ll be on defense again in the 2027 election, when there will be another open race for the seat being vacated by conservative Justice Annette Ziegler. Conservatives would have to win that race, along with the 2028 and 2029 Supreme Court elections, in order to have a shot at flipping the court in 2030.

A campaign sign for Judge Chris Taylor for Supreme Court is posted on a podium at an indoor event, with a person and presentation screen visible in the background.

Workers prepare a ballroom for Judge Chris Taylor’s election night party Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at the Madison Concourse Hotel in Madison, Wis. Angela Major/WPR

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin described Taylor’s victory as an “indictment” of Trump and of U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, the GOP candidate for governor.

**“**Our state Supreme Court has repeatedly shown it is the last line of defense against the federal government’s unconstitutional overreach, and with tonight’s election, we have secured a pro-freedom, pro-democracy majority on the Court through 2030,” read the statement from Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Devin Remiker.

The Republican Party of Wisconsin, by contrast, issued a terse statement thanking Lazar for her candidacy.

“Maria ran an honorable campaign focused on impartial justice, following the rule of law, and rejecting judicial activism,” said Chairman Brian Schimming. “We must stay united and continue fighting for our Conservative values.”

Although Wisconsin’s Supreme Court is officially nonpartisan, the justices’ ideological approach is no secret, in practice or on the campaign trail. In Taylor’s case, her politics were well known, having previously served as a Democratic member of the state Assembly.

A group of people stand closely together in a room, some smiling and some photographing or recording with phones; drinks and glasses are on a table in the foreground.

Attendees celebrate as Judge Chris Taylor takes the stage at her election night event Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at the Madison Concourse Hotel in Madison, Wis. Angela Major/WPR

Some of the biggest cheers of the night came when Taylor mentioned her previous job at Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.

“I have always valued every woman’s ability to make her own personal, private health care decisions,” she said.

Justice Bradley’s term will run through the end of July. Taylor will take office on Aug. 1.

Editor’s note: WPR’s Rich Kremer contributed to this story.