For the first time in 15 years, liberals win control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, On April 4, 2023, Democrats achieved a significant victory in Wisconsin’s off-year election, securing the state’s open supreme court seat and shifting control of the court to liberals for the first time in 15 years.
Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewicz emerged victorious in the closely contested race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as declared by The Associated Press.
Protasiewicz defeated former state Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly in a campaign that shattered previous national spending records for a state supreme court election.
This victory holds particular significance as it comes at a pivotal time for the court and the Democratic voters who supported Protasiewicz.
The justices are expected to hear a challenge to Wisconsin’s pre-Civil War abortion ban, and with a liberal majority, they may also consider a lawsuit that could potentially overturn Wisconsin’s Republican-drawn legislative maps.
Furthermore, this win ensures that liberals will hold a majority on the court leading up to the next presidential election in 2024, when Wisconsin is projected to once again play a pivotal role as a swing state in the race for the White House.
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Protasiewicz will be among the seven justices with the final say if any election lawsuits are filed in state court.
As Protasiewicz delivered her victory speech at the Saint Kate hotel in downtown Milwaukee, the crowd erupted with joy, and her closest supporters danced on stage. She expressed her gratitude and optimism for a “better and brighter future” where rights and freedoms will be protected.
Protasiewicz, who was born and raised in Milwaukee’s south side and has served as a prosecutor in the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office for 25 years, has been open about her political stance during the campaign.
She has expressed support for women’s right to choose in the issue of abortion and has criticized the state’s Republican-drawn legislative maps as “rigged” in the context of redistricting.
Protasiewicz’s campaign was heavily supported by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, with a fundraising haul that surpassed previous records for a judicial race, totaling over $14 million this year. Her opponent, Dan Kelly, who has a long Republican resume and was initially appointed to the court by former Republican Gov. Scott Walker in 2016, faced criticism for his ties to conservative groups and his campaign’s heavy spending on attack ads against Protasiewicz.
Despite the substantial financial support from Kelly’s backers, including Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce and GOP megadonor Richard Uihlein-funded group Fair Courts America, Protasiewicz’s fundraising efforts and support from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin proved to be successful.
Protasiewicz’s victory marks a historic moment for Wisconsin, as she becomes part of the liberal majority on the state’s supreme court. Her term as a justice will begin on August 1 and will extend until 2033.
Democrats hope that with a liberal majority on the court, they can potentially influence the state’s political trajectory towards the left, including redrawing legislative maps and potentially congressional maps, where Republicans currently hold six out of eight U.S. House seats in a state that is otherwise evenly split between the two major parties.
In conclusion, Judge Janet Protasiewicz’s victory in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election marks a significant win for Democrats, flipping control of the court to liberals for the first time in 15 years. With a liberal majority on the court, important issues such as Wisconsin’s abortion ban and redistricting could potentially be influenced.
Protasiewicz’s campaign was supported by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and broke previous fundraising records for a judicial race. Her win has reignited hope among her supporters and sets the stage for a new chapter in Wisconsin’s judicial landscape.
