Wisconsin Supreme Court elections, 2019
- Primary: Feb. 19
- General election: Apr. 2
- Voter registration deadline: Mar. 13 (online or mail) or Apr. 2 (in-person)
- Early voting: Varies by locality
- Absentee voting deadline: Apr. 2
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: Yes
- Voter ID: Photo ID required
- Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
| 2019 Election Dates | |
|---|---|
| Deadline to file candidacy | |
| January 2, 2019 | |
| Primary election | |
| February 19, 2019 | |
| General election | |
| April 2, 2019 | |
| 2019 State Judicial Elections | |
|---|---|
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| Overview | |
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| Appellate Courts Overview | |
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Appeals Judge Brian Hagedorn defeated Appeals Chief Judge Lisa Neubauer in the election for Wisconsin Supreme Court on April 2, 2019. Incumbent Justice Shirley Abrahamson did not seek re-election.[1]
With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Hagedorn led Neubauer by 5,960 votes or 0.5 percentage points.[2] Neubauer conceded the race on April 10, 2019.[3]
Although state Supreme Court elections in Wisconsin are nonpartisan, liberal and conservative groups typically coalesce around specific candidates. Conservatives, who backed Hagedorn, held a 4-3 majority on the court heading into the election. Like Abrahamson, who was retiring and leaving the seat open, Neubauer was supported by liberals.[4]
With Hagedorn's win, conservatives expanded their majority on the court to 5-2.[5]
The election had the second-highest turnout for a nonpartisan race in the state since 2000.[6]
On this page, Ballotpedia has compiled the following resources to better help readers understand this race:
- Candidate profiles of Hagedorn and Neubauer;
- A summary of the candidates' campaign finance reports;
- Each candidate's campaign themes;
- A summary of what was at stake in this election;
- An overview of previous state Supreme Court elections;
- A chart of historical competitiveness in statewide races in Wisconsin; and
- An overview of the composition of the state Supreme Court.
| Wisconsin voter? Dates you need to know. | |
|---|---|
| Candidate Filing Deadline | January 2, 2019 |
| Registration Deadline | March 29, 2019 (same-day registration available at polling place) |
| Absentee Application Deadline | March 28, 2019 |
| General Election | April 2, 2019 |
| Voting information | |
| Polling place hours | 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| Polling locations: Go to this page to find your assigned precinct for election day. | |
Contents
- 1 Candidates and election results
- 2 Justices not on the ballot
- 3 Candidate profiles
- 4 What's at stake
- 5 Candidate support and opposition
- 6 Campaign finance
- 7 Satellite spending
- 8 Campaign advertisements
- 9 Debates and forums
- 10 Campaign themes
- 11 Campaign strategies and tactics
- 12 Noteworthy events
- 13 Political analysis of general election outcome
- 14 Timeline of events
- 15 Past elections
- 16 Overview
- 17 2018
- 18 2017
- 19 2016
- 20 2015
- 21 2013
- 22 2011
Candidates and election results
General election for Wisconsin Supreme Court
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Brian Hagedorn (Nonpartisan) | 50.2 | 606,414 | |
| Lisa Neubauer (Nonpartisan) | 49.7 | 600,433 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 722 | ||
There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 1,207,569 | |||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Justices not on the ballot
Candidate profiles
Incumbent: No
Political office: None
Biography: After graduating from the Northwestern University School of Law, Hagedorn worked in both private and public practice. He was an assistant attorney general at the Wisconsin Department of Justice, a law clerk for Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, and chief legal counsel to Gov. Scott Walker (R). He was first appointed to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals by Walker in 2015 and elected to serve on the bench in 2017.[7]
- Hagedorn said that he would uphold constitutional rights as written. He said on his campaign website, "This includes certain rights that some today wish weren’t protected, like the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to bear arms. It is my solemn oath to uphold and enforce these rights against government overreach."[8][9]
- Hagedorn highlighted the opioid epidemic in his statement of candidacy. He said, "The heroin and meth epidemics are ravaging our communities. We must be part of the conversation. Our next justice must recognize that crime victims as well as those accused of crimes are protected in our constitution. And we must remember that law enforcement is our ally, not our enemy."[10]
- Hagedorn said his work in the Walker administration should not be seen as a conservative or pro-governor job. "It’s a very different role to have a client and advocate for them and serve them than it is to read the law and call it like you see it," he said.[9]
Incumbent: No
Political office: None
Biography: Neubauer graduated from the University of Chicago Law School and clerked for Barbara Crabb, the then-chief judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. She worked in private practice as a partner at Foley and Lardner LLP and the chair of the firm’s Insurance Dispute Resolution Practice Group. She was elected to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals in 2008 and 2014. She was appointed chief judge in 2015 and 2018.[11]
- Neubauer said of her candidacy, "I’m running because I care about making sure our court is fair, impartial, independent, and upholds the rule of law. Now, more than ever, we need our courts to protect the rights of all Wisconsinites and the fundamental principles of our democracy."[11]
- Neubauer called on satellite groups not to get involved in the race, saying, "It's really unfortunate that our independent courts are sort of treated as partisan playgrounds. There's nothing good about outside money—special interest money—coming in to influence court elections."[12]
- Neubauer said she should not be considered the Democratic nominee for the seat. “It would be unfortunate to give me that label rather than look at my record on the court of appeals. My partisan views, or anybody’s partisan views, are not relevant to my decision making," Neubauer said.[13]
What's at stake
Although state Supreme Court elections in Wisconsin are nonpartisan, liberal and conservative groups typically coalesce around specific candidates. Conservatives, who back Hagedorn, held a 4-3 majority on the court heading into the election. Shirley Abrahamson, who is retiring and leaving this seat open, has been supported by liberals.[14] If conservatives win this seat, it would expand their majority on the court to 5-2.[15]
If liberals, who back Neubauer, retained Abrahamson’s seat in this election, it would set up a battle for control of the court in 2020. Dan Kelly, who was appointed to the court in 2016 by Gov. Scott Walker (R), will stand for election for the first time in 2020.[16] The next election will not occur until 2023.
Both liberal and conservative groups view the court as critical to upholding laws on issues ranging from redistricting and voting laws to taxes and regulations. The following quotes present some of the conservative and liberal perspectives on the significance of this race.
| “ | At stake is more than just one Supreme Court seat. If conservatives fail to win this seat, the Democrats will just be one Spring election in 2020, held at the same time as their presidential primary, from being able to accomplish all of their Progressive dreams by judicial fiat. If the Democrats gain control of the Court, they can rewrite the legislative district lines just like they have in other states. They can override the legislature and mandate school spending levels - which will mean even higher taxes. They can undo all of the reforms of the Walker era without ever having to go through the legislature.[18] | ” |
| —James Wigderson, RightWisconsin[19] | ||
| “ | If Neubauer and the 2020 liberal candidate both win, liberals would control the Wisconsin Supreme Court with a 4-3 majority. It would be a majority that sticks around for a while. ... A liberal majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court opens the possibility of overturning some of this awful lame-duck legislation. The court could also act as a check on the next round of redistricting and on regulatory cases pertaining to Foxconn, which would go directly to the high court. A liberal majority would have ample justification to reexamine, and potentially even overturn, Wisconsin’s voter ID law. Even if the Legislature tried to work around the court’s restrictions, the veto pen of Gov. Tony Evers would prevent any new voter ID legislation from becoming law.[18] | ” |
| —Alan Talaga, Isthmus[20] | ||
Candidate support and opposition
The following committees and groups either contributed to the candidate's campaign or made a recommendation or endorsement of the candidate.
Support for Hagedorn
- Gableman for Supreme Court[21]
- Republican Party of Milwaukee County[21]
- Washington County Republican Party[21]
- Rob Brooks for Assembly[21]
- Rick Gundrum for 58th Assembly[21]
- National Rifle Association[22]
Supporters made the following arguments in favor of Hagedorn:
- Republican Party of Wisconsin tweeted, "It’s crucial we add another CONSERVATIVE voice to our Supreme Court!"[23]
Support for Neubauer
- IBEW PAC Voluntary Fund[24]
- Plumbers Local 75 PAC[24]
- Local 400 COPE Fund[24]
- WI Laborers District Council[24]
- WI Pip Trades Association PAC[24]
- American Federation of Teachers #212[24]
- Friends of Chris Rockwood[24]
- Wisconsin Education Association Council[24]
- National Demoratic Redistricting Committee[25]
- Eric Holder (D), former U.S. attorney general[26]
- Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin[27]
- Human Rights Campaign[28]
Supporters made the following arguments in favor of Neubauer:
- Wisconsin Education Association Council said Neubauer "Understands the importance of the rights of working people; Supports public schools and public school teachers; Recognizes public school teachers deserve a voice in their schools; Will restore public confidence in the court by ending partisanship in the judiciary; Is endorsed by more than 300 judges; Has authored hundreds of legal opinions and has the experience and integrity needed to serve on the highest court in the state."[29]
Campaign finance
Satellite spending
Satellite spending, commonly referred to as outside spending, describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[30][31][32]
This section lists satellite spending in this race reported by news outlets in alphabetical order. If you are aware of spending that should be included, please email us.
- Americans for Prosperity spent $87,381 on canvassing and mailing expenses to support Hagedorn.[33][34]
- Center for Popular Democracy Action spent $31,400 on canvassing and literature to support Neubauer.[33][34]
- For Our Future spent $83,829 on canvassing and advertising to support Neubauer.[33]
- Greater Wisconsin Committee spent nearly $835,000 in support of Neubauer.[35]
- National Democratic Redistricting Committee spent $350,000 through two affiliates to support Neubauer in March 2019.[25]
- Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin spent $121,900 to support Neubauer in March 2019, including $100,000 on digital ads and $20,000 on canvassing.[36][34]
- The Republican State Leadership Committee spent at least $1 million in support of Hagedorn.[37]
- Services Employees International Union Committee on Political Education spent $131,000 to support Neubauer.[33]
Campaign advertisements
This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.
Brian Hagedorn
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Lisa Neubauer
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Debates and forums
March 26, 2019, debate
Hagedorn and Neubauer participated in the second and final debate of the election on March 26, 2019, hosted by Marquette University Law School. They debated rules surrounding judicial selection and recusal from cases. Both candidates also discussed their judicial philosophies, allegations of partisanship that had been raised against both candidates, and Hagedorn's personal blog posts on same-sex marriage.
- Find the Associated Press round-up of the debate here.
- Find the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel round-up of the debate here.
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March 15, 2019, debate
Hagedorn and Neubauer participated in the first debate of the election on March 15, 2019, hosted by the Wisconsin State Bar Center in Madison. They debated the transparency of rule-making conferences, rules governing recusal, and the Second Amendment. Hagedorn's personal blog posts on same-sex marriage, the Mormon faith, and other issues were also discussed.
- Find the Associated Press round-up of the debate here.
- Find the Urban Milwaukee round-up of the debate here.
- Find the Wisconsin State Journal round-up of the debate here.
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Campaign themes
Interviews
Campaign strategies and tactics
Partisanship
While both Hagedorn and Neubauer said their judicial decision-making was not impacted by any ideological leanings, the race was considered a proxy partisan battle. Here are the messages and biographical details that media outlets and the opposing campaigns used to suggest each candidate had a partisan agenda.[38][39]
Brian Hagedorn
| “ | Unfortunately, as made clear from [his] statements and from his record as Scott Walker's lawyer, Brian Hagedorn will bring his personal, extreme and radical agenda to the Supreme Court.[18] | ” |
| —Tyler Hendricks, Neubauer campaign manager[40] | ||
- Hagedorn was chief legal counsel to Republican Gov. Scott Walker for four years.[38][41]
- Hagedorn was appointed to serve on the bench by Walker.[38]
- Hagedorn was a member of the Kenosha County Republican Party.[38]
- Hagedorn's father ran the Milwaukee County Republican Party.[38]
- Hagedorn was a county co-chair for Republican John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign.[38]
- Hagedorn wrote a blog in law school where he discussed advancing Republican and conservative causes.[38][41]
Response
| “ | The real critical question is do you have a judicial philosophy that says we’re going to lay aside whatever our personal views are and we’re going to apply the law faithfully? And I do have that philosophy. I have carried it out and I don’t have confidence my opponent is going to do the same on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.[18] | ” |
| —Brian Hagedorn[39] | ||
Lisa Neubauer
| “ | For Lisa Neubauer, Democratic politics is the family business. With over $100,000 in donations to left-wing candidates and groups helping pave the way to power and influence, there’s no questioning Neubauer’s allegiances.[18] | ” |
| —Stephan Thompson, Hagedorn campaign aide[38] | ||
- Neubauer's husband was the chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and a member of the Democratic National Committee.[38]
- Neubauer's daughter was a Democratic state legislator.[38]
- Neubauer contributed to liberal and Democratic candidates and groups until 2007.[38]
- Neubauer was appointed to serve on the bench by Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle.[38]
- Neubauer was an aide to Democratic state Sen. Fred Risser and worked on Democrat Gary Hart's 1984 presidential campaign.[38]
- Neubauer attended a climate change march protesting the environmental agenda of the Trump administration in 2017.[38][42]
Response
| “ | I have chosen a very different path than my family. I would ask to be judged on the path that I’ve chosen and my path is as a judge.[18] | ” |
| —Lisa Neubauer[43] | ||
Noteworthy events
Wisconsin Realtors Association withdraws endorsement of Hagedorn
On January 31, 2019, Milwaukee Sentinel Journal reported on several blog posts Hagedorn wrote in 2005 and 2006 critical of homosexuality, Planned Parenthood, and the NAACP.[44] Neubauer campaign manager Tyler Hendricks said the posts showed that Hagedorn would "bring his personal, extreme and radical agenda to the Supreme Court."[45]
Hagedorn said in a statement, "My job as a judge is to say what the law is and not what I think the law should be. ... I’m not running to impose whatever my viewpoints are, whether they’re the same or different than they were 12 years ago." He added, "If you have ever been a Catholic or Christian of various stripes you’re going to get attacked for your faith."[45]
On February 18, 2019, the Wisconsin Realtors Association withdrew their endorsement of Hagedorn. The group's president and CEO, Michael Theo, said in a statement, "The real estate related issues that served as the basis for our endorsement have been overshadowed by other, non-real estate related issues – issues with which we do not want to be associated and that directly conflict with the principles of our organization and the values of our members."[46]
"The Constitution provides no religious test for public office. Attacks on people of faith have no place in public life. I’ll protect the religious freedom of all people. Stand with me against these shameful attacks," Hagedorn tweeted on February 21, 2019.[47]
Political analysis of general election outcome
After the election, party leaders and journalists tried to explain the causes and consequences of Hagedorn defeating Neubauer. Frequently mentioned issues included Hagedorn's Christian faith, Neubauer's campaign strategy, geographic shifts, satellite spending, and the implications of the race for the 2020 presidential election.
Candidate statements
Brian Hagedorn
"For me, this is a win not just for me, but a win for the state of Wisconsin. I ran this race saying my commitment is to the rule of law. The job of the judge is to say what the law is and not what I think the law should be. I think that won last night."[48]
Lisa Neubauer
"Hundreds of thousands of people voted for fair, impartial, and independent courts, and that’s why we had to ensure the vote count was accurate and observe the county canvass process, which has now been largely completed. I hope future races see less influence from outside special interests. With more than $1 million poured in against me with false and misleading attacks in the final week alone, it’s not hard to imagine that is what made the difference."[49]
Christian and conservative base
David French, National Review
"The attacks on Hagedorn’s faith crossed a red line. At issue was a single, vital question: 'Can a Bible-believing Christian still hold office in the state of Wisconsin?'"[50]
Shawn Johnson and John K. Wilson, Wisconsin Public Radio
"Hagedorn also came under fire from liberal groups for helping to found Augustine Academy, a Christian elementary school in Waukesha County whose code of conduct forbids teachers, parents or students from engaging in homosexual activity.
But Hagedorn framed the criticisms as attacks on his Christian faith, a rallying cry his campaign used to turn out the conservative base throughout Wisconsin.
After being outspent by liberals in the race's early going, Hagedorn benefited from a late $1.3 million ad buy from the Republican State Leadership Committee. The ads suggested the liberal groups backing Neubauer supported a socialist agenda of that was 'soft on crime.' They also urged conservatives who support President Donald Trump to vote for Hagedorn, suggesting that the attacks on Hagedorn mirrored attacks on U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh."[49]
David Keene, Washington Times
"But then something happened and in Wisconsin it seemed a little like what Yogi Berra might have called deja vu all over again. Conservatives began to realize that if liberal progressives were to take over the State Supreme Court, the reforms of the Walker years would be reversed and at the same time began to see the attempt to belittle and demonize Hagedorn and his values as an attack on theirs. They began making calls, getting together and while anyone asked on last Monday who would be the winner would have predicted a Neubauer landslide, on Tuesday Wisconsin voters came out in record numbers for such a race and handed Mr. Hagedorn a narrow victory."[51]
Charles J. Sykes, The Atlantic
"So what happened?
'The base woke up,' one GOP official texted me. ...
'The backlash was overwhelming,' one Republican activist told me. 'The left made this about bigotry, but Christians saw this as an attack on their faith.' Others saw a replay of attacks on Justice Brett Kavanaugh, which helped turn out Republican voters last fall.
As central as the fight over religion was, Republicans in Wisconsin cited two other major factors in the conservative resurgence.
After a controversial lame-duck legislative session, liberal groups got a judge from liberal Dane County to invalidate the entire legislative session, including all the appointments made by then-Governor Walker and confirmed by the legislature. The decision has since been stayed by the court of appeals and is likely to be overturned, but the sweeping ruling revived memories among Wisconsin Republicans of previous judicial rulings that sought to invalidate other conservative victories.
In Wisconsin, nothing motivates Republican voters like activist judges from liberal Madison, and the decision on the legislative session dramatized the importance of judicial elections for conservatives."[52]
Campaign strategy of Neubauer and supporters
Bill Kaplan, Urban Milwaukee
"Unfortunately, the election largely centered on a hot-button social issue, i.e., LGBT rights and same-sex marriage vs. religion. Hagedorn lost support from the realtors and big business. However, Americans for Prosperity (Koch brothers) and the D.C. Republican State Leadership Committee rode to Hagedorn’s rescue. Inexplicably, Neubauer and her outside supporters fell into a trap, partially of their own making. ...
Missing from the Neubauer campaign was a message and strategy to appeal to rural, suburban and urban voters. Surely the Neubauer campaign and supporters could have explained why the court is important for regular folks. Bread-and-butter pocketbook issues are decided by the court: Consumer rights involving defective products, environmental and pollution lawbreaking, workplace rights, protections for minorities, women, farmers and homeowners. Moreover, the court decides safeguards for a democratic society, e.g., corruption and gerrymandering. Concepts, not court cases."[53]
William Patrick, Epoch Times
"Despite the fierce election headwinds, Republican voters turned out en masse. More than 200,000 more voters participated in the election than in last year’s state supreme court battle, with more of them breaking for the conservative candidate.
Election results show Neubauer failed dramatically in areas outside of Madison and Milwaukee, where Holder and aligned progressive groups were most active."[54]
Geographic shifts
Craig Gilbert, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"In short, the last three elections for very different offices — president, governor and state Supreme Court — reflect similar geographic shifts, shifts that began before Trump’s 2016 presidential candidacy but have grown more pronounced in the Trump era.
In Wisconsin, the geographic divide in the state used to be more east vs. west. Now it is becoming more north vs. south, as metropolitan counties become more liberal (or less conservative) and rural counties become more conservative (or less liberal)."[55]
Trump and the 2020 presidential election
David Leonhardt, The New York Times
"The second bit of bad news for Democrats was the outcome’s political signal.
Wisconsin Supreme Court races are statewide, and Hagedorn’s win suggests that Wisconsin remains up for grabs heading into President Trump’s re-election campaign. Republican voters now seem quite energized, and turnout was high in conservative areas, like Waukesha County, just west of Milwaukee."[56]
Kelly Ruh, Wisconsin State Journal
"Liberals tried to make this election explicitly about Trump, with national Democrats such as former Attorney General Eric Holder throwing their support — and millions of dollars — behind a candidate who participated in an anti-Trump rally. They thought that would wrap things up for them.
Instead, they got a flashback to their 2016 nightmare, and a sobering reminder that Hillary Clinton didn’t lose Wisconsin; Donald Trump won it by running on a platform of tax cuts, deregulation and record job creation from new trade deals, all of which appeal to voters throughout the Badger State."[57]
Timeline of events
- March 26, 2019: WISN 12 hosted a debate between Hagedorn and Neubauer and moderated by Mike Gousha.[58]
- March 25, 2019: Human Rights Campaign endorsed Neubauer.[28]
- March 25, 2019: The Republican State Leadership Committee reported spending over $1 million on an ad campaign supporting Hagedorn.[59]
- March 20, 2019: Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin reported spending $120,000 to support Neubauer.[60]
- March 20, 2019: The Greater Wisconsin Committee announced spending $750,000 on an ad campaign supporting Neubauer.[61]
- March 18, 2019: The National Rifle Association endorsed Hagedorn.[22]
- March 15, 2019: Hagedorn and Neubauer participated in the first debate of the election at the Wisconsin State Bar Center in Madison.[62]
- March 4, 2019: The National Democratic Redistricting Committee announced it would spend $350,000 to back Neubauer. Eric Holder (D), the chairman of the group and a former U.S. attorney general, was also expected to travel to Wisconsin to campaign for Neubauer.[25][26]
- February 21, 2019: Neubauer released her first campaign video providing a biographical account of her experience as Jane Doe #1 in a civil rights lawsuit related to unconstitutional strip searches.
- February 19, 2019: Hagedorn released his first campaign ad focused on the adoption of his daughter, Lily, and the opioid crisis.
- January 15, 2019: Final fundraising figures were reported for 2018. Neubauer raised $330,000 while Hagedorn raised $311,000. Neubauer ended the year with a cash balance of $573,000; Hagedorn had $281,000.
Past elections
Overview
| Wisconsin Supreme Court elections, 2005-2018 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Winning candidate | Ideological lean | Percent share of vote | Losing candidate | Ideological lean | Percent share of vote | Margin of victory | Majority on court | Turnout | Other statewide elections on ballot |
| 2018 | Rebecca Dallet | 55.8% | Michael Screnock | 44.2% | 11.6% | 4-3 | 22% | None | ||
| 2017 | Annette Ziegler (incumbent) |
97.2% | Write-in | -- | 2.8% | 94.4% | 5-2 | ~16% | State Superintendent of Public Instruction | |
| 2016 | Rebecca Bradley (incumbent) |
52.4% | JoAnne Kloppenburg | 47.5% | 4.9% | 5-2 | 47.4% | Primary election - U.S. President | ||
| 2015 | Ann Walsh Bradley (incumbent) |
58.1% | James Daley | 41.9% | 16.2% | 4-3 | 18.3% | None | ||
| 2013 | Patience Roggensack (incumbent) |
57.5% | Ed Fallone | 42.5% | 15% | 4-3 | 20.5% | State Superintendent of Public Instruction | ||
| 2011 | David T. Prosser (incumbent) |
50.2% | JoAnne Kloppenburg | 49.7% | 0.5% | 4-3 | 34.3% | None | ||
| 2009 | Shirley Abrahamson (incumbent) |
59.6% | Randy Koschnick | 40.2% | 19.4% | 4-3 | 18.2% | None | ||
| 2008 | Michael Gableman | 51.1% | Louis Butler (incumbent) |
48.5% | 2.6% | 4-3 | 19.3% | None | ||
| 2007 | Annette Ziegler | 58.6% | Linda M. Clifford | 41.1% | 17.5% | 4-3 | 19.4% | None | ||
| 2006 | N. Patrick Crooks (incumbent) |
99.4% | Write-in | -- | 0.6% | 98.8% | 4-3 | 11.8% | None | |
| 2005 | Ann Walsh Bradley (incumbent) |
99.6% | Write-in | -- | 0.4% | 99.2% | 4-3 | 17.1% | State Superintendent of Public Instruction | |
2018
- See also: Wisconsin Supreme Court elections, 2018
Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Rebecca Dallet won the nonpartisan election for a 10-year term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court against Sauk County Circuit Judge Michael Screnock on April 3, 2018. Dallet won with 56 percent support. The seat was previously held by Justice Michael Gableman, a member of the court's 5-2 conservative majority at the time of the election, who did not seek re-election.
Although the election was officially nonpartisan, groups associated with the Democratic Party tended to support Dallet while groups associated with the Republican Party tended to support Screnock.
| Wisconsin Supreme Court, 2018 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Rebecca Dallet |
55.72% | 555,848 |
| Michael Screnock | 44.19% | 440,808 |
| Total Votes (3880/3880 precincts) | 996,656 | |
| Source: Wisconsin Elections Commission | ||
2017
- See also: Wisconsin Supreme Court elections, 2017
Candidates
■ Annette Ziegler (Incumbent/Unopposed)
One seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court was up for election in 2017. Justice Annette Ziegler was elected to the court in 2007 for a 10-year term and needed to stand for re-election in 2017 in order to serve another term. She ran unopposed.[63] Because she was unopposed, the seat did not appear on the ballot in Wisconsin's February primary election but instead appeared only on the ballot for the April 4 general election.
2016
- See also: Wisconsin Supreme Court elections, 2016
| Wisconsin Supreme Court, Rebecca Bradley's Seat, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Rebecca Bradley Incumbent |
52.35% | 1,024,892 |
| JoAnne Kloppenburg | 47.47% | 929,377 |
| Write-in votes | 0.19% | 3,678 |
| Total Votes (100% Reporting) | 1,957,947 | |
| Source: Wisconsin Government Accountability Board Official Results | ||
One seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court was up for election in 2016. Following the death of Justice N. Patrick Crooks on September 21, 2015, Rebecca Bradley was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court by Governor Scott Walker (R) on October 9, 2015. Earlier in September, Crooks had announced his plans to retire at the end of his term.[64] Bradley had already announced a run for Crooks' seat before his death.[65]
Bradley and opponent JoAnne Kloppenburg received the highest number of votes for Bradley's seat in the primary on February 16, 2016, knocking Joe Donald out of the race. Bradley and Kloppenburg then faced each other in the sharply contested April general election. Bradley won. The race had the highest voter turnout for a supreme court race in Wisconsin state history, with over 1,900,000 votes cast.[66][67]
2015
- See also: Wisconsin Supreme Court elections, 2015
- See also: Wisconsin judicial elections, 2015
| General election, 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Ann Walsh Bradley Incumbent |
58.1% | 471,866 |
| James Daley | 41.9% | 340,632 |
| Total Votes | 813,200 | |
One seat was open for election on the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2015. Incumbent Justice Ann Walsh Bradley defeated Rock County Circuit Court Judge James Daley in the general election on April 7, 2015. Although the election was nonpartisan, Bradley is considered to be part of the liberal minority on the court. If Daley won, conservatives would have held a five-member majority on the seven-member court.[70]
Justice Bradley was elected to the court in 1995 and re-elected in 2005. She previously served as a circuit court judge for 10 years in Marathon County. Judge Daley joined the Rock County Circuit Court since 1989.[71][72]
2013
- See also: Wisconsin judicial elections, 2013
| Candidate | Incumbency | Position | Primary Vote | Election Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RoggensackPatience Roggensack | ||||
| FalloneEd Fallone | No | 29.8% | 42.47% | |
| MegnaVince Megna | No | 6.3% |
One seat was open for election on the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2013. Incumbent Justice Patience Roggensack defeated law professor Ed Fallone in the general election on April 2, 2013. Although the election was nonpartisan, Roggensack is considered to be a member of the court's conservative majority. If Fallone had won, control of the court would have gone to the liberal wing.
Justice Roggensack was first elected to the court in 2003. She previously served for seven years on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and for 16 years as an attorney in private practice.
2011
- See also: Wisconsin judicial elections, 2011
| Candidate | Incumbency | Position | Primary Vote | Election Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KloppenburgJoAnne Kloppenburg | No | District IV | 49.70% | |
| ProsserDavid T. Prosser | Yes | 50.192% | ||
| WinnigJoel Winnig | No | |||
| StephensMarla J. Stephens | No |
One seat was open for election on the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2011. Incumbent Justice David T. Prosser defeated Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg in the general election on April 5, 2011. Although the election was nonpartisan, Prosser is considered to be a member of the court's conservative majority. If Kloppenburg had won, control of the court would have gone to the liberal wing.
Justice Prosser was first appointed to the court in 1998 by Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) and was elected to a full term in 2001. He had previously served on the Wisconsin Tax Appeals Commission and in the Wisconsin State Assembly.
Turnout in Wisconsin Supreme Court elections, 2000-2019
The following chart shows voter turnout in Wisconsin Supreme Court elections from 2000 to 2019, the winner, and his or her opponent. Data was collected from the Wisconsin Elections Commission.[73]
Historical competitiveness in statewide races in Wisconsin
The following chart shows the vote totals for general election candidates in contested statewide races from 2012 through 2018. Although Wisconsin Supreme Court elections are nonpartisan, liberal and conservative groups typically coalesce around specific candidates. In those cases, Democratic and Republican refers to the preferred candidate of each party.
| Partisan vote totals in statewide races in Wisconsin, 2012-2018 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Race | Other Votes | Other Percentage | Total votes | ||||
| 2018 | U.S. Senate | 1,472,914 | 55.4% | 1,184,885 | 44.5% | 2,964 | 0.1% | 2,660,763 |
| 2018 | Governor | 1,313,836 | 49.6% | 1,284,786 | 48.5% | 52,480 | 2.0% | 2,651,102 |
| 2018 | State Supreme Court | 555,848 | 55.7% | 440,808 | 44.2% | 829 | 0.1% | 997,485 |
| 2016 | President | 1,382,536 | 46.5% | 1,405,284 | 47.2% | 188,330 | 6.3% | 2,976,150 |
| 2016 | U.S. Senate | 1,380,335 | 46.8% | 1,479,471 | 50.2% | 87,539 | 3.0% | 2,947,345 |
| 2016 | State Supreme Court | 929,377 | 47.5% | 1,024,892 | 52.3% | 3,678 | 0.2% | 1,957,947 |
| 2015 | State Supreme Court | 471,866 | 58.0% | 340,632 | 41.9% | 702 | 0.1% | 813,200 |
| 2014 | Governor | 1,122,913 | 46.6% | 1,259,706 | 52.3% | 27,698 | 1.1% | 2,410,317 |
| 2013 | State Supreme Court | 362,969 | 42.5% | 491,261 | 57.5% | 485 | 0.1% | 854,715 |
| 2012 | President | 1,620,985 | 52.8% | 1,407,966 | 45.9% | 39,483 | 1.3% | 3,068,434 |
| 2012 | U.S. Senate | 1,547,104 | 51.5% | 1,380,126 | 45.9% | 78,808 | 2.6% | 3,006,038 |
About the Wisconsin Supreme Court
- See also: Wisconsin Supreme Court
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is the highest appellate court in the state of Wisconsin. Seven justices, selected in nonpartisan elections for 10-year terms, sit on the state's court of last resort. The court has jurisdiction over all other Wisconsin courts and can also hear original actions.[74]
Political composition
This is the political composition of the supreme court heading into the 2019 election. Justices are selected in nonpartisan elections. In the case of a mid-term vacancy, the governor appoints a replacement.
| ■ Shirley Abrahamson | Appointed by Patrick Lucey (D) in 1976, elected in 1979, 1989, 1999, and 2009 | |
| ■ Ann Walsh Bradley | Elected in 1995, 2005, and 2015 | |
| ■ Patience Roggensack | Elected in 2003 and 2013 | |
| ■ Annette Ziegler | Elected in 2007 and 2017 | |
| ■ Rebecca Dallet | Elected in 2018 | |
| ■ Rebecca Bradley | Appointed by Scott Walker (R) in 2015, elected 2016 | |
| ■ Daniel Kelly | Appointed by Scott Walker (R) in 2016 |
Selection
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
The seven justices of the Wisconsin Supreme Court are elected in nonpartisan elections. Justices serve 10-year terms.[75][76] In the event of a midterm vacancy, the governor appoints a replacement. If the vacancy occurs after that year's spring election and on or before December 1 of the same year, the appointee must stand for election in the next succeeding spring election in which no other justice is to be elected. If the vacancy occurs after December 1 but before the following spring's election, the appointee must stand for election in the next spring election—beginning with the second spring election from the time of the appointment—in which no other justice is to be elected.[75][76]
The governor solicits recommendations from an Advisory Council on Judicial Selection in making his or her appointments, but is not required to choose one of the suggested appointees.[75][77]
Qualifications
To serve on the supreme court, a justice must be:
- a qualified elector in the state; and
- licensed to practice law in the state for at least five years immediately prior to appointment or election to the court.[75]
Selection of the chief judge
The chief justice of the supreme court is elected by a majority of the justices serving on the Court to serve a two-year term.
State profile
- See also: Wisconsin and Wisconsin elections, 2019
Partisan data
The information in this section was current as of May 7, 2019
Presidential voting pattern
- Wisconsin voted for the Democratic candidate in five out of the seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
Congressional delegation
- Following the 2018 elections, one U.S. senator from Wisconsin was a Democrat and the other was a Republican.
- Five of Wisconsin's eight U.S. representatives were Republicans and three were Democrats.
State executives
- Democrats held five of Wisconsin's 11 state executive offices. The other six offices were nonpartisan.
- Wisconsin's governor was Democrat Tony Evers.
State legislature
- Republicans controlled the Wisconsin State Senate with a 19-14 majority.
- Republicans controlled the Wisconsin State Assembly with a 63-35 majority.
Wisconsin Party Control: 1992-2025
Two years of Democratic trifectas • Ten years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Senate | D | R | R | R | D | D | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
|
|
| Demographic data for Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 5,767,891 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 54,158 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 86.5% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 6.3% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 2.5% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2.1% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 6.3% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 91% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 27.8% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $53,357 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 15% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Wisconsin. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Wisconsin judicial election' OR 'Wisconsin court election' OR 'Wisconsin election 2019'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Wisconsin State Journal, "Justice Shirley Abrahamson won't seek re-election in 2019," May 31, 2018
- ↑ WisconsinVote, "Election Results," accessed April 4, 2019
- ↑ NBC 15, "Liberal candidate in Wisconsin Supreme Court race concedes," April 10, 2019
- ↑ Wisconsin State Journal, "Shirley Abrahamson, diagnosed with cancer, won't leave court until term ends," September 1, 2018
- ↑ U.S. News & World Report, "Supreme Court Field Set With Neubauer, Hagedorn Facing Off," January 2, 2019
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedWEC - ↑ Judge Hagedorn, "About," accessed January 7, 2019
- ↑ Judge Hagedorn, "Judicial Philosophy," accessed January 7, 2019
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Wisconsin Public Radio, "Former Walker Legal Counsel Brian Hagedorn Announces State Supreme Court Campaign," August 16, 2018
- ↑ Urban Milwaukee, "Judge Brian Hagedorn Announces Candidacy for the Wisconsin Supreme Court," August 16, 2018
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Judge Neubauer, "Meet Judge Neubauer, accessed January 7, 2019
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Candidate Lisa Neubauer calls on outside groups to stay out of Wisconsin Supreme Court race," July 12, 2018
- ↑ Associated Press, "Neubauer announces candidacy for Wisconsin Supreme Court," July 12, 2018
- ↑ Wisconsin State Journal, "Shirley Abrahamson, diagnosed with cancer, won't leave court until term ends," September 1, 2018
- ↑ U.S. News & World Report, "Supreme Court Field Set With Neubauer, Hagedorn Facing Off," January 2, 2019
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Justice Daniel Kelly won't say if he wants Republicans to reschedule elections to help him keep his job," November 30, 2018
- ↑ RightWisconsin, "About," accessed January 16, 2019
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ RightWisconsin, "Hagedorn Shows Strong Fundraising Numbers," accessed January 15, 2019
- ↑ Isthmus, "Restoring balance," December 13, 2018
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 Wisconsin Campaign Finance Information System, "Friends of Brian Hagedorn," accessed January 16, 2019
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 NRA-ILA, "NRA Endorses Brian Hagedorn for Wisconsin Supreme Court," March 18, 2019
- ↑ Twitter, "Wisconsin GOP," December 1, 2018
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 24.6 24.7 Wisconsin Campaign Finance Information System, "Judge Neubauer for Justice," accessed January 16, 2019
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 WPR, "Eric Holder's Group Spending $350K To Help Supreme Court Candidate Lisa Neubauer," March 4, 2019
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Cap Times, "Eric Holder to campaign for Lisa Neubauer in Wisconsin Supreme Court race," March 4, 2019
- ↑ TMJ 4, "Planned Parenthood spends $120,000 to help WI Supreme Court nominee Lisa Neubauer," March 20, 2019
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Human Rights Campaign, "HRC Endorses Judge Lisa Neubauer for the Wisconsin Supreme Court," March 25, 2019
- ↑ Wisconsin Education Association Council, "WEAC Board votes to recommend Lisa Neubauer for State Supreme Court," December 14, 2018
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed September 22, 2015
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed September 22, 2015
- ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," November 6, 2015
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 U.S. News & World Report, "Holder Spending $350,000 to Help Neubauer for Supreme Court," March 4, 2019
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 Urban Milwaukee, "Outside Spending for Neubauer Swamps Hagedorn," March 22, 2019
- ↑ La Crosse Tribune, "Lisa Neubauer outpaces Brian Hagedorn in final fundraising reports before election," March 26, 2019
- ↑ TMJ 4, "Planned Parenthood spends $120,000 to help WI Supreme Court nominee Lisa Neubauer," March 20, 2019
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, "Republican group spending more than $1 million to help Brian Hagedorn in Wisconsin court race," March 26, 2019
- ↑ 38.00 38.01 38.02 38.03 38.04 38.05 38.06 38.07 38.08 38.09 38.10 38.11 38.12 38.13 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Political party ties run deep for Supreme Court candidates Neubauer and Hagedorn," March 2, 2019
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Court candidate Brian Hagedorn says critics are attacking him for his Christian faith," March 7, 2019
- ↑ Associated Press, "Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate defends blog posts," February 4, 2019
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 Wisconsin Public Radio, "Supreme Court Hopeful Hagedorn Stresses Impartiality Despite Conservative, Religious Leanings," March 27, 2019
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Supreme Court candidate Lisa Neubauer attended anti-Trump, climate change march in 2017," February 27, 2019
- ↑ Associated Press, "Liberals eye 2020 takeover of Wisconsin Supreme Court," February 10, 2019
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Bice: Supreme Court candidate once wrote that gay rights ruling could lead to legalized bestiality," January 31, 2019
- ↑ 45.0 45.1 Associated Press, "Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate defends blog posts," February 4, 2019
- ↑ Wisconsin Realtors Association, "Statement by Michael Theo," February 18, 2019
- ↑ Twitter, "Judge Hagedorn," February 21, 2019
- ↑ Wisconsin Public Radio, "Brian Hagedorn Claims Victory In Wisconsin Supreme Court Race," April 3, 2019
- ↑ 49.0 49.1 Wisconsin Public Radio, "Lisa Neubauer Concedes Wisconsin Supreme Court Race To Brian Hagedorn," April 10, 2019
- ↑ National Review, "In Wisconsin, a Vote against Anti-Christian Bigotry," April 3, 2019
- ↑ Washington Times, "Reading Wisconsin's 2020 tea leaves," April 9, 2019
- ↑ The Atlantic, "Warning from Wisconsin," April 5, 2019
- ↑ Urban Milwaukee, "How to Win in 2020," April 9, 2019
- ↑ Epoch Times, "If Results Stand, Holder Loses Big in Wisconsin Election," April 7, 2019
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A big court race reflects the deepening north-south, rural-metro dividing lines in Wisconsin," April 8, 2019
- ↑ The New York Times, "A Red Warning Sign," April 5, 2019
- ↑ Madison.com, "Kelly Ruh: Hagedorn’s win shows the Trump Wisconsin coalition fired up for 2020," April 11, 2019
- ↑ Urban Milwaukee, "Wisconsin Supreme Court Debate To Air Live On WISN 12," March 18, 2019
- ↑ WisPolitics.com, "RSLC starts ads knocking Neubauer in campaign’s final days," March 25, 2019
- ↑ TMJ 4, "Planned Parenthood spends $120,000 to help WI Supreme Court nominee Lisa Neubauer," March 20, 2019
- ↑ Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, "Hijacking Campaign 2019 - Information on Greater Wisconsin Committee," March 20, 2019
- ↑ WiscNews, "Supreme Court debate: Brian Hagedorn, Lisa Neubauer knock each other over personal views, political backgrounds," March 16, 2019
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Candidate Tracking by Office, 2017 Spring Election - 4/4/2017," accessed January 5, 2017
- ↑ WEAU.com, "Walker appoints Appeals Judge Bradley to WI High Court," October 9, 2015
- ↑ Wisconsin State Journal, "Scott Walker appoints Rebecca Bradley to Supreme Court," October 10, 2015
- ↑ AP, "Wisconsin Summary Vote Results," accessed April 6, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Election Results," accessed April 6, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidates Registered 2015 Spring Election," January 8, 2015
- ↑ Wisconsin Election Commission, "2015 Spring Election Results," accessed September 19, 2019
- ↑ Fox 6 News, Ann Walsh Bradley elected to a third term on Wisconsin Supreme Court, defeating James Daley," April 7, 2015
- ↑ Wisconsin Court System, "Justice Ann Walsh Bradley," accessed February 13, 2015
- ↑ Wisconsin Court System, "Wisconsin Supreme Court selects chief judges," June 28, 2013
- ↑ Wisconsin Elections Commission, "More Wisconsin Election Results," accesses April 4, 2019
- ↑ Wisconsin Court System, "Supreme Court," accessed September 18, 2014
- ↑ 75.0 75.1 75.2 75.3 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Wisconsin," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ 76.0 76.1 Wisconsin State Legislature, "Statutes, Chapter 8.50(4)(f)," accessed December 16 2016
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, "Walker's approach to the judiciary," September 21, 2013
| ||||||||||
Federal courts:
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Wisconsin, Western District of Wisconsin • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Wisconsin, Western District of Wisconsin
State courts:
Wisconsin Supreme Court • Wisconsin Court of Appeals • Wisconsin Circuit Courts • Wisconsin Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in Wisconsin • Wisconsin judicial elections • Judicial selection in Wisconsin