Wisconsin Voters Head To Polls To Decide Balance Of State Supreme Court

Voters in Wisconsin are making their way to polling stations on Tuesday to decide the balance of the state Supreme Court in a highly expensive court race. The election is between the conservative candidate and former Justice Dan Kelly, supported by most Republicans, and liberal candidate Judge Janet Protasiewicz, the favored candidate of most Democrats. The winner will determine the ideological makeup of the divided court and earn a 10-year term. Neither candidate is affiliated with a political party.

The total amount spent on this year’s election exceeds $40 million, an unprecedented amount compared to the previous years when $10 million was spent. Protasiewicz has reportedly been supported by left-wing billionaire George Soros and Gov. J.B Pritzker (D-IL). Kelly, on the other hand, has received support from Fair Courts America, a conservative judicial organization.

Even Hollywood has shown its support for Protasiewicz, with director Steven Spielberg contributing to her campaign, and actor Mark Ruffalo encouraging voters to elect her and flip the state Supreme Court.

Both candidates have accused each other of being unfit to serve. Kelly pointed out Protasiewicz’s left-wing connections and her record of having a soft-on-crime sentencing history. On the other hand, Protasiewicz linked Kelly to the attempts to challenge the 2020 presidential election in the state.

The candidates have almost polar opposite views, with Protasiewicz openly supporting abortion rights, and Kelly receiving endorsements from key pro-life groups in the state. Protasiewicz had an ad featuring a woman celebrating an abortion because the child could have been born with disabilities.

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The election is pivotal as it could play a critical role in deciding the fate of laws related to abortion, election integrity measures, election maps, and gun laws. The current abortion ban in Wisconsin from 1849 could become relevant as the Roe v. Wade ruling was overturned last summer. Last year, the court made a significant ruling, in a 4-3 decision, barring Wisconsin voters from turning their ballots into unmanned drop boxes, which would have been different with a different balance on the court. Republicans control the state’s general assembly, but Democrat Gov. Tony Evers won re-election last November, meaning lawmakers are limited in their ability to pass laws.