Key takeaways:
- Wisconsin has seen a shift in the balance of power on its Supreme Court, with liberal Judge Janet Protasiewicz winning a heated race for an open seat.
- The race between Protasiewicz and former Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly was the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history.
- Protasiewicz is the first woman of color to serve on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and her victory is seen as a major win for the state’s progressive movement.
Wisconsin has seen a shift in the balance of power on its Supreme Court, with liberal Judge Janet Protasiewicz winning a heated race for an open seat on Tuesday. This marks the first time since at least 2008 that the court’s liberal bloc has held the majority.
The race between Protasiewicz and former Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly, a conservative, was the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history. Wisconsin Democrats invested heavily in Protasiewicz’s bid, and the victory is seen as a game-changer for the state’s embattled Democrats.
The state’s legislative district maps reflect the most aggressive partisan gerrymandering in the nation, and the Supreme Court has been a key battleground in the fight for control of the state. With Protasiewicz’s victory, the court’s liberal bloc now holds a 5-2 majority.
Protasiewicz has served as a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge since 2006. She is the first woman of color to serve on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Her victory is seen as a major win for the state’s progressive movement, and her appointment is expected to have a lasting impact on the court’s decisions.
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