Chris Taylor wins Wisconsin Supreme Court race, expanding liberals' majority

BREAKING NEWSApr. 8, 2026, 1:30 AM UTC2026 Election2026 ElectionChris Taylor wins Wisconsin Supreme Court race, expanding liberals' majorityNBC News projects that Taylor defeated conservative Maria Lazar, the fourth straight victory for Democratic-backed candidates in the battleground state’s high court elections.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleKornacki Cam: Watch Steve analyze Georgia House runoff and Wisconsin Supreme Court election resultsGet more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleBy Adam EdelmanChris Taylor has won a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, NBC News projects, expanding liberals’ majority in the key battleground state. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Taylor, a state appeals court judge and former Democratic state legislator, secured a 10-year term on the court over conservative Maria Lazar, an appeals court judge who worked in Republican former Gov. Scott Walker’s administration.Taylor’s victory in the race for retiring Justice Rebecca Bradley’s seat means liberals will have a 5-2 edge on the swing state’s highest court, putting the majority out of reach for conservatives until at least 2030.Liberal candidates have won four straight Wisconsin Supreme Court elections, as well as five of the last six. And dating to 2017, Democratic and Democratic-aligned candidates have won 19 of the last 24 statewide races in Wisconsin.Taylor, who was backed by the state Democratic Party, held massive fundraising and ad spending advantages over Lazar throughout the race. She had put abortion and voting rights at the forefront of her campaign, much like other winning liberal Supreme Court candidates in the state in recent years. Taylor, a former policy director for the state's Planned Parenthood group. also leaned into messaging that targeted President Donald Trump, which has helped turn out Democratic voters in non-presidential elections in Wisconsin a...