Trending Now - Chris Taylor's Victory Expands Liberal Influence on Wisconsin Court

WHO:

AP - Chris Taylor is a state Appeals Court judge and previously worked for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.

AP - Maria Lazar is also a state Appeals Court judge and previously worked under a Republican attorney general in the state Department of Justice.

WPR - Chris Taylor will take office on August 1st, 2026.

WPR - Maria Lazar conceded the race, stating, “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.”

AP - Chris Taylor will join Justices Jill Karofsky and Susan Crawford as the third former Dane County Circuit Court judge on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

AP - Maria Lazar was endorsed by the state Republican Party but received less financial support than previous conservative candidates.

AP - Wisconsin Republican Party Chair Brian Schimming called for Republicans to “stay united and continue fighting for our conservative values” following Lazar’s defeat.

Alternet - Chris Taylor, an appeals court judge and former Democratic lawmaker, was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Alternet - Maria Lazar, Appeals Court Judge, was Taylor's opponent in the election.

Alternet - Justices Jill Karofsky and Susan Crawford are current members of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

WHAT:

AP - Taylor's victory was declared by the Associated Press at 8:36 p.m. on April 7th, 2026.

AP - Taylor's campaign raised $8 million, significantly less than the over $100 million spent in the previous year's election.

AP - Taylor's victory marks the fourth consecutive win for liberal candidates in Wisconsin Supreme Court elections since 2020.

WPR - Taylor's campaign raised significantly more than Lazar, outspending her 6-to-1.

WPR - Taylor's victory is described as an “indictment” of Trump and U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

Alternet - Chris Taylor won the Wisconsin Supreme Court election by a margin of approximately 20 points over Maria Lazar.

AP - Taylor's victory continues a four-election winning streak for liberal candidates in Wisconsin Supreme Court races since 2020.

NBC News - Taylor's election expands the liberal majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court to 5-2.

ABC News - Taylor's campaign focused heavily on abortion rights, with one of her ads stating, “abortion is on the ballot.”

Vox - Taylor's victory is seen as a significant shift in voter sentiment in Wisconsin, as she won in at least 24 counties that Trump carried in 2024.

AP - Taylor's victory marks the fourth consecutive win for liberal candidates in Wisconsin Supreme Court elections since 2020.

AP - Taylor's campaign and outside advocacy groups spent $8 million on her campaign, significantly less than the over $100 million spent in the previous year's election.

AP - Taylor held a 22-point lead over Lazar when the race was called by the Associated Press.

AP - Taylor's victory marks the fourth consecutive win for liberal candidates in Wisconsin Supreme Court elections since 2020.

AP - Taylor's campaign focused on abortion rights, with one of her TV ads stating, “abortion is on the ballot.”

AP - Taylor spent approximately nine times more on television ads than Lazar, according to a tally by the Brennan Center for Justice.

AP - Chris Taylor's victory marks the fourth consecutive win for liberal candidates in Wisconsin Supreme Court elections since 2020.

AP - Taylor's win guarantees that liberals will hold a majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court until at least 2030.

AP - In her victory speech, Taylor stated, “Once again, Wisconsin showed the entire nation that we believe that the people should be at the center of government and the priority of our judiciary, not the billionaires, not the most powerful and privileged, but the people.”

AP - Taylor's campaign focused heavily on abortion rights, with one of her TV ads stating, “abortion is on the ballot.”

AP - Taylor spent approximately nine times more on television ads than Lazar, according to a tally by the Brennan Center for Justice.

Alternet - Taylor's election gives an early signal on the mood of the state’s voters ahead of the midterm elections on November 8th, 2026.

Alternet - Taylor's campaign and outside advocacy groups spent $8 million on her campaign, significantly less than the over $100 million spent in the previous year's election.

Alternet - Turnout for the election on April 7th, 2026, was significantly lower than the previous year, which saw a record turnout influenced by President Trump's inauguration and Elon Musk's financial contributions.

Alternet - Chris Taylor's election secured a 5-2 majority for the liberal wing of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Alternet - Taylor held a 22-point lead over Lazar when the race was called by the Associated Press.

Alternet - Taylor's campaign and outside advocacy groups spent $8 million on her campaign.

Alternet - Turnout for the election was significantly lower than the previous year, which saw over $100 million spent on the race.

Alternet - Taylor's win marks a four-election winning streak for liberal candidates in Wisconsin's Supreme Court races.

WHERE:

Alternet - The election took place in Wisconsin.

WHEN:

AP - Taylor will take office on August 1st, 2026.

WPR - The election results were declared by the Associated Press at 8:36 p.m. on April 7th, 2026.

AP - The election was held on April 7th, 2026.

Alternet - The election was held on April 7th, 2026.

Alternet - The current liberal majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to remain intact until at least 2028.

WHY:

AP - Taylor's campaign sought to position her as a bulwark against Republican efforts to interfere with Wisconsin's election system during the 2028 presidential race.

WPR - Taylor framed her win in the context of national politics, stating, “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.”

Alternet - Taylor's campaign sought to position her as a bulwark against efforts from Republicans and Trump to interfere with Wisconsin's election system during the 2028 presidential race.

AP - Taylor aimed to position herself as a bulwark against Republican efforts to interfere with Wisconsin's election system during the 2028 presidential race.

Alternet - Taylor's campaign sought to position her as a potential bulwark against efforts from Republicans and Trump to interfere with Wisconsin's election system during the 2028 presidential race.

Alternet - Taylor sought to position herself as an independent voice on the bench, despite her history with Planned Parenthood and as a Democratic lawmaker.

Alternet - The election's stakes were lower than in previous years, as ideological control of the court was not at stake.

HOW:

AP - Taylor spent approximately nine times more on television ads than Lazar, according to a tally by the Brennan Center for Justice.

WPR - Taylor's campaign focused on energizing ordinary Wisconsinites, emphasizing the need for a judiciary that protects rights and ensures equal justice under the law.

AP - Taylor spent about nine times more on television ads than Lazar during the campaign, according to a tally by the Brennan Center for Justice.

AP - Taylor's campaign strategy included a significant fundraising advantage, allowing her to dominate television advertising compared to Lazar.

Alternet - Taylor defined herself as a careful judge, despite her history with Planned Parenthood and as a Democratic lawmaker, aiming to act as an independent voice on the bench.

Alternet - Taylor campaigned by defining herself as a careful judge and a potential bulwark against Republican efforts to interfere with Wisconsin's election system during the 2028 presidential race.

Alternet - Lazar's campaign received less financial support from the state Republican Party compared to previous conservative candidates.

(UPDATED April 9, 2026 03:50 UTC)

Chris Taylor has been declared the winner of the Wisconsin Appeals Court race, marking the fourth consecutive victory for liberal candidates in Wisconsin Supreme Court elections since 2020. Taylor's campaign raised $8 million, a stark contrast to the over $100 million spent in the previous year's election, and she will take office August 1st. To bolster her position against Republican efforts to influence Wisconsin's election system for the upcoming 2028 presidential race, Taylor invested heavily in television advertising, spending approximately nine times more than her opponent, Maria Lazar.

(UPDATED April 8, 2026 23:09 UTC)

Chris Taylor will take office August 1st, after winning the election with a significant financial advantage, outspending her opponent Maria Lazar six to one. Lazar conceded the race, expressing her honor and pride in being a candidate, while the Democratic Party of Wisconsin described Taylor's victory as an indictment of Trump and U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany. Taylor emphasized that her win reflects a desire for a judiciary that upholds rights and ensures equal justice, stating that politics should not influence the judicial system.

(UPDATED April 8, 2026 21:11 UTC)

Chris Taylor has won the Wisconsin Supreme Court election by a significant margin of approximately 20 points over Maria Lazar, marking a continuation of a four-election winning streak for liberal candidates in the state since 2020. Her victory expands the liberal majority on the court to five justices against two, and she focused her campaign heavily on abortion rights, emphasizing that “abortion is on the ballot.” Notably, Taylor's win reflects a shift in voter sentiment, as she secured victories in at least 24 counties that Trump had carried in the 2024 election, and she outspent Lazar on television ads by a factor of nine.

(UPDATED April 8, 2026 17:21 UTC)

Chris Taylor has been elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, joining Justices Jill Karofsky and Susan Crawford as the third former Dane County Circuit Court judge on the bench. Taylor's victory, which came with a 22-point lead over Maria Lazar, marks the fourth consecutive win for liberal candidates in Wisconsin Supreme Court elections since 2020, despite her campaign spending significantly less than previous candidates at $8 million. Taylor's campaign focused on positioning herself against Republican efforts to influence Wisconsin's election system ahead of the 2028 presidential race.

(UPDATED April 8, 2026 15:20 UTC)

on Tuesday, liberal candidate Janet Taylor won the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, marking the fourth consecutive victory for liberal candidates since 2020. Taylor's campaign heavily focused on abortion rights, and she significantly outspent her opponent, Brian Lazar, on television ads, with reports indicating she spent about nine times more. Following the election, Wisconsin Republican Party Chair Brian Schimming urged Republicans to remain united and continue fighting for their conservative values in light of Taylor's win.

(UPDATED April 8, 2026 13:20 UTC)

Chris Taylor's victory in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election marks the fourth consecutive win for liberal candidates since 2020, ensuring that liberals will hold a majority on the court until at least 2030. In her victory speech, Taylor emphasized the importance of placing the people at the center of government, stating that “the people should be at the center of government and the priority of our judiciary, not the billionaires.” Her campaign, which heavily focused on abortion rights and featured a significant fundraising advantage, allowed her to outspend her opponent on television ads by nearly nine times.

(UPDATED April 8, 2026 05:33 UTC)

Taylor's recent election on Tuesday signals the mood of Wisconsin voters ahead of the midterm elections November 8th, despite a significantly lower turnout compared to the previous year. Her campaign, along with outside advocacy groups, spent $8 million, which is a stark contrast to the over $100 million spent in the last election, influenced by President Trump's inauguration and Elon Musk's financial backing. Positioning herself as a careful judge and an independent voice, Taylor aims to counter Republican efforts to interfere with Wisconsin's election system during the upcoming presidential race in 2028.

(UPDATED April 8, 2026 03:53 UTC)

Chris Taylor has been elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, securing a 5-2 majority for the liberal wing after defeating her opponent, Maria Lazar, by a substantial 22-point margin. Taylor's campaign, which emphasized her role as an independent voice and a careful judge, saw a total expenditure of $8 million, although voter turnout was notably lower than in previous elections. This victory marks the fourth consecutive win for liberal candidates in Wisconsin's Supreme Court races, with the current majority expected to remain intact until at least 2028.