Chris Taylor Wins Wisconsin Supreme Court Seat, Expands Liberal Majority

Chris Taylor, a Democratic-backed appeals court judge and former state legislator, has won a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, NBC News and the Associated Press project. Taylor defeated conservative Maria Lazar, an appeals court judge who worked in former Republican Governor Scott Walker’s administration, securing a 10-year term on the state’s highest court. This victory expands the liberal majority to 5-2, a margin that will remain in place until at least 2030.

Taylor’s win marks the fourth consecutive victory for Democratic-backed candidates in Wisconsin Supreme Court elections and the fifth out of the last six. The race followed a pattern seen in recent years, with Taylor holding significant fundraising and advertising advantages over Lazar. Taylor’s campaign emphasized abortion rights and voting rights, issues that have resonated with liberal voters in the state. She also highlighted opposition to former President Donald Trump, a strategy that has helped mobilize Democratic voters in Wisconsin and nationally during non-presidential elections.

Unlike the high-spending and highly contentious Supreme Court races in 2023 and 2025, this year’s contest was quieter and less expensive. According to the ad tracking firm AdImpact, spending on television ads totaled $6.5 million, with $4.7 million supporting Taylor and over $1 million opposing Lazar. This contrasts sharply with the $85 million spent on ads in the 2025 race, which was the most expensive state Supreme Court election in U.S. history.

Taylor’s victory continues a recent trend of liberal influence on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Since gaining a majority in 2023, the court has overturned Republican-favored legislative maps, leading to new district lines effective in 2024. Democrats aim to flip at least one legislative chamber in the upcoming fall elections for the first time in 16 years. The court also struck down a near-total abortion ban from 1849 in a 4-3 ruling last year.

The court’s liberal majority is expected to play a key role in upcoming cases, including lawsuits challenging Wisconsin’s congressional maps, which currently favor Republicans who hold six of the state’s eight House seats. The court may also review cases related to election administration, such as ballot drop box bans, election-related lawsuits, and voting rights for people with disabilities.

Political science professor Howard Schweber of the University of Wisconsin-Madison noted that judicial panels are likely to rule the current districts unconstitutional, with any new maps subject to appeal to the Supreme Court. The court’s decisions could influence the political landscape in Wisconsin for years to come.

Looking ahead, liberals have another opportunity to expand their majority in 2026, as conservative Justice Annette Ziegler will not seek a third term. Additional justices will face re-election between 2028 and 2030, potentially shaping the court’s composition well into the next decade.