Liberals expand majority on wisconsin supreme court

Chris Taylor, a state appeals court judge and former Democratic state legislator, has won a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, according to an NBC News projection, expanding liberals' majority in the crucial battleground state. With most votes in, Taylor led conservative opponent Maria Lazar, an appeals court judge who served in Republican former Governor Scott Walker's administration, by over 20 points.

Taylor's victory secures liberal edge

Taylor's win means liberals will now have a 5-2 edge on the state's highest court, putting the majority out of reach for conservatives until at least 2030. This marks a 10-point swing toward the Democratic-backed side compared to the 2025 state Supreme Court race and a 21-point swing from the 2024 presidential contest in Wisconsin.

Liberals have now won four straight Wisconsin Supreme Court elections, as well as five of the last six. Since 2017, Democratic and Democratic-aligned candidates have won 19 of the last 24 statewide races in Wisconsin.

Taylor, who was heavily backed by the state Democratic Party, held significant fundraising and advertising advantages over Lazar throughout the campaign. She focused her messaging on abortion and voting rights, similar to other successful liberal Supreme Court candidates in the state recently.

With no court majority on the line this year, fundraising and enthusiasm were lower compared to the last two Supreme Court elections in Wisconsin, which saw massive spending and involvement from figures like tech billionaire Elon Musk. However, the liberal majority's impact has already been felt in recent years, including in the court's decision to overturn the state's legislative maps and in ongoing efforts to flip at least one legislative chamber this fall.