Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz is projected to win a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court giving liberals the majority on the state’s highest court for the first time in 15 years.
With more than 70 percent of the vote in Protasiewicz had an eleven point lead over the Republican and former state Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly, according to NBC News.
Though judicial races are technically nonpartisan, Protasiewicz was seen as more liberal with her pro-abortion stance, slamming the state’s “rigged” election map and blasting Kelly for his involvement in discussions over a fake elector plot in 2020.
Kelly was seen as more conservative, trying to suggest that Protasiewicz is soft on crime, according to The Hill.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has a 4-3 conservative majority. Protasiewicz will fill the seat left vacant by retiring conservative Justice Patience Roggensack, giving liberals the majority for the first time since 2008, and Protasiewicz has a 10 year term.
The new liberal majority on the court will decide several key issues in the state including abortion rights, the state’s gerrymandered legislative maps and any possible challenges to the 2024 election in the state.
