Key takeaways:
- Janet Protasiewicz, a Milwaukee County circuit court judge, won the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, marking the first time in 15 years that liberals will take control of the court.
- The race shattered spending records on state judicial elections, and was a critical gauge of whether and how the issue of abortion is motivating voters.
- The win likely breaks an era of Republican dominance in a state that has been ensnared in political conflict for more than a decade, and will shape the future of the state on a range of issues, including abortion access, election rules, and more.
Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race has come to a close, with Democratic-backed Janet Protasiewicz winning the election, CNN projects. This marks the first time in 15 years that liberals will take control of the court, with the fate of the state’s abortion ban pending.
Protasiewicz, a Milwaukee County circuit court judge, defeated conservative Daniel Kelly, a former state Supreme Court justice. The race shattered spending records on state judicial elections, and was a critical gauge of whether and how the issue of abortion is motivating voters.
The new court controlled 4-3 by liberals is expected to decide a pending lawsuit challenging the state’s 1849 law banning abortion. Protasiewicz had support from the state’s leading anti-abortion groups, while Kelly had worked for Republicans.
The win likely breaks an era of Republican dominance in a state that has been ensnared in political conflict for more than a decade. With the election of Protasiewicz, Wisconsin is now poised to make decisions on a range of issues, including abortion access, election rules, and more.
The election of Protasiewicz is a significant victory for liberals, and marks a new era for Wisconsin. It remains to be seen how the new court will shape the future of the state.
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