Liberal Wisconsin Judge Wins Supreme Court Race, Flips Balance Of Court

On Tuesday, Liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Judge Janet Protasiewicz won an important race that would shift the court’s ideological balance, defeating conservative-backed candidate Dan Kelly.

She earned about 55.5% of the vote to Kelly’s 44.5%. Protasiewicz garnered significant margins in urban areas like Milwaukee and Madison, whereas Kelly couldn’t inspire voter turnout in rural areas.

This election, considered one of the most costly court races in history, will have significant repercussions on policies in Wisconsin. These policies include abortion, voter identification measures, election maps, and guns. Tuesday’s election result may jeopardize the state’s voter ID law, as left-wing challenges may be successful in court.

After her victory, Janet Protasiewicz told the Associated Press, “I feel great. I could not feel better. I am surprised by the results and the magnitude of the victory here. We are absolutely delighted and thrilled.” Her win will give liberal justices a 4-3 advantage for the first time in 15 years.

Left-wing billionaire George Soros, Illinois Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and many celebrities, including actor Mark Ruffalo and director Steven Spielberg, backed Protasiewicz. Total spending exceeded $40 million, a considerable amount compared to previous spending.

On the other hand, Dan Kelly criticized Protasiewicz and her support base after his defeat. He said, “I wish that in a circumstance like this, I would be able to concede to a worthy opponent. But I do not have a worthy opponent to which I can concede. This was the most deeply deceitful, dishonorable, despicable campaign I have ever seen run for the courts. It was truly beneath contempt.”

During her campaign, Protasiewicz promised to oppose Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion law and featured a campaign ad where a woman celebrated an abortion because the child could have been born with disabilities. However, she has come under fire for her record on sentencing criminals, with conservative groups alleging that she gave soft sentences to violent criminals. Protasiewicz claims that her victory is a win for “democracy” and against extremism.

Janet Protasiewicz will begin her 10-year term in August, and the next election for the state Supreme Court will be in two years. Wisconsin is expected to be a pivotal battleground state in the 2024 Presidential election.

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