Overview

• Lazar, a Wisconsin Court of Appeals judge and former state prosecutor, announced her bid and cast herself as an independent voice intent on stopping the politicization of the courts.
• Liberal Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor, a former Democratic lawmaker, has been running since May and entered the fall with more than $1 million raised.
• The seat is open because conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley declined to seek another term, and the winner will serve a 10-year term.
• Liberals currently hold a 4-3 edge on the court; a liberal win in April would expand it to 5-2, while a conservative win would still leave liberals with a majority until at least 2028.
• Recent Wisconsin Supreme Court races set national spending records with heavy outside funding, and major issues likely headed to the court include abortion, collective bargaining under Act 10, congressional maps and election rules.