The April 7 Wisconsin Supreme Court election between Democratic-backed Chris Taylor and Republican-backed Maria Lazar represents the latest test of liberal momentum in one of the nation's most closely divided battleground states.

If Taylor, an appeals court judge and former Democratic state legislator, defeats Lazar, it would extend liberals' winning streak in Wisconsin Supreme Court elections to four consecutive races. The winner will fill the seat held by retiring conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley, potentially putting conservatives out of reach of a majority on the court for years to come.

What the Left Is Saying

Wisconsin Democrats and progressive groups supporting Taylor emphasize her focus on abortion and voting rights as central to her campaign, mirroring the messaging that helped liberal candidates win the 2023 and 2025 Supreme Court races.

Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Devin Remiker said the party is running through the finish line and not taking any vote for granted. 'We are pretty much the next statewide general election on the docket, and I think that being able to show Wisconsin at scale, statewide, that Democrats are winning and winning big will give more cause for concern for Republicans,' he said.

Taylor has made clear that she views the court as a check on federal overreach. 'Voters are concerned with the overreach we are seeing from the federal government,' she said in an interview. 'We are not going to capitulate to the federal government here in the state of Wisconsin when they attempt to erode our rights, if they attempt, in the future, to take our elections away. We have to have a strong court to stand up for the independence of our state.'

Groups backing Taylor have spent $1.3 million on ads since January, with her campaign spending $2.3 million — more than 14 times the $157,000 Lazar's campaign has spent on advertising.

What the Right Is Saying

Conservatives acknowledge they face significant challenges in the race, with Republican strategist Brandon Scholz noting that Democrats and liberals have proven they can outraise and outspend their opponents in Wisconsin Supreme Court contests.

'Conservatives never woke up. It's like they never figured out they needed a new page in their playbook,' said Scholz, a Republican-turned-independent strategist.

Lazar, an appeals court judge who worked in the administration of Republican Gov. Scott Walker, has focused on contrasting her judicial career with Taylor's history as a Democratic legislator. 'My opponent in this race was a politician for more years than she's been on the bench,' Lazar said. 'She's been a politician almost 10 years, and on the bench maybe four or five. I've been on the bench 11 years.'

Some conservatives have criticized state Republican Party Chairman Brian Schimming for the party's lack of engagement in the race. Former Republican state Sen. Duey Stroebel recently posted on X, 'It would really be appreciated if you could engage in the Supreme Court race for Lazar.' Conservative radio hosts have also called for major changes in the state party.

Schimming pointed to resource constraints as the primary challenge, saying: 'I don't think it's a matter of dropping the ball. You know, there's always a resource issue.'

What the Numbers Show

Fundraising figures show a significant disparity between the candidates. In 2025, Taylor raised 10 times as much money as Lazar. Since January 1, Taylor's campaign has spent $2.3 million on ads compared to Lazar's $157,000.

A Marquette University Law School poll released last month found that 62% of likely Wisconsin voters were undecided in the race. Among those who had made up their minds, Taylor led Lazar 22% to 15%, within the survey's margin of error. Most voters hadn't been closely following the race and didn't know much about either candidate.

The liberal winning streak in Wisconsin Supreme Court races began three years ago when they won a majority on the court for the first time in 15 years. Janet Protasiewicz won the 2023 race by around 10 percentage points, and Susan Crawford maintained the liberal majority in 2025 with a similar margin — even as Trump carried Wisconsin by about 1 point in the 2024 presidential election.

Democratic and Democratic-backed candidates have won 18 of the last 23 statewide races in Wisconsin dating back to 2017.

The upcoming race also comes after Justice Annette Ziegler announced she will not run for a third term in 2027, creating another potential opportunity for liberals to expand their majority. Three other justices face re-election for 10-year terms from 2028 to 2030.

The Bottom Line

The April 7 election represents a critical opportunity for liberals to cement their majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court for the foreseeable future. Taylor's substantial financial advantage and history of successful liberal messaging in state judicial races give her a clear edge, though the high number of undecided voters means the outcome is not certain.

For Republicans, the race highlights ongoing challenges in competing with Democratic fundraising and messaging operations in statewide Wisconsin elections. The late entry of Lazar — she entered the race five months after Taylor — and conservative divisions within the party have complicated their efforts.

The result will likely set the tone for Wisconsin's fall gubernatorial race, where Democrats are seeking to retain the governor's office after Tony Evers decides not to seek a third term. A Taylor victory would provide momentum for the Democratic candidate in what promises to be another closely watched contest in the battleground state.