The race that could rebalance political power in the state.
Liberal Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewicz crushed her opponent on Tuesday in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court election. The outcome of the contest will likely determine the fate of abortion rights and other key issues in the top presidential battleground.
Conservatives currently hold a 4-3 majority on the state Supreme Court — an advantage that’s helped the right lock in power for the Republican-dominated legislature. But Protasiewicz’s win could provide a new check on the state GOP. She will be sworn in this summer.
The contest between former state Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly, a conservative, and Protasiewicz has been unusually contentious for a judicial campaign. The lone general election debate between the two was cutting, and the opposing sides lobbed brutal attack ads back and forth.
Kelly acknowledged his loss on Tuesday evening, but savaged the now-justice elect in his concession speech.”I wish in circumstances like this, I would be able to concede to a worthy opponent, but I do not have a worthy opponent,” he said, calling Protasiewicz’ campaign “beneath contempt” that launched “rancid slanders.” He said she would damage the integrity of the court.
Protasiewicz struck a more optimistic tone. “It means that our democracy will always prevail,” she said at her victory night party. “Too many have tried to overturn the will of the people. Today’s result shows that Wisconsinites believe in democracy and the democratic process.”
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Liberals just flipped the ideological makeup of Wisconsin's Supreme Court.
Janet Protasiewicz’s high-stakes win means the new 4-3 liberal majority is much more likely to strike down a controversial 19th century abortion ban in the state. https://t.co/hxvpY69PZJ pic.twitter.com/UsLpLfuAVP
— POLITICO (@politico) April 5, 2023
At the advent of the Trump era in 2017, conservatives held an insurmountable 5-2 majority in the WI Supreme Court. They've now lost the court and two governor's races.
— Christian Schneider (@Schneider_CM) April 5, 2023
He had Trump’s endorsement in 2020 and lost the same race by 11 points.
This stuff is so tiring. https://t.co/N0vzKWnuFA
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) April 5, 2023
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