Overview
- Republicans are split over whether to lean into the party brand or distance the campaign from partisanship in the April statewide judicial election, according to Politico.
- Both parties and outside allies have invested tens of millions of dollars, elevating the contest into a nationally watched test ahead of 2026.
- Recent decisions underscore the stakes, including a July ruling that struck down Wisconsin’s 176-year abortion ban and an April decision upholding the governor’s expansive line‑item veto.
- Democrats hope the court will take up a redistricting case in time to shape the 2026 midterms, adding urgency to control of the bench.
- GOP strategists argue the outcome will hinge on mobilizing base voters in a low-turnout environment rather than persuading a large bloc of swing voters.