Chris Taylor won the 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court race with a 20-point margin, securing a 5-2 liberal majority on the court through at least 2030. Months of pre-election polling from Marquette Law School showed Taylor leading, but her final tally—60% to challenger Maria Lazar’s 40%—exceeded what even optimistic forecasts predicted. The result marks the largest Wisconsin Supreme Court victory margin since 2000.

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Election Date: April 7, 2026 ·
Winner: Chris Taylor (60%) ·
Challenger: Maria Lazar (40%) ·
Margin: 20 points

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Long-term electoral durability of liberal majority
  • Impact of conservative voter mobilization in future races
  • Specific case outcomes that Taylor’s win enables
3Timeline signal
4What happens next
  • Court composition reshapes rulings on abortion, maps, unions
  • Future turnover on court will create new competitive seats
  • Both parties likely invest heavily in next judicial opening

The following table summarizes verified election data from multiple sources including the Marquette Law School Poll and official election reporting.

Fact Detail
Election Date April 7, 2026
Candidates Chris Taylor vs. Maria Lazar
Court Term 10 years
Poll Leader Chris Taylor (Marquette Law School, WPR, NBC)
Winner’s Share 905,157 votes (60%)
Runner-up Share 600,044 votes (40%)
Margin of Victory 20 percentage points
Largest Margin Since 2000
Court Composition 5-2 liberal majority
Majority Secured Until August 2030

What are the latest Wisconsin Supreme Court race polls 2026?

Months before the April 7 election, the Marquette Law School Poll tracked the race. A March 2026 survey conducted March 11-18 showed Taylor leading among likely voters, though large undecided cohorts complicated the picture.

“Majorities of registered voters still undecided in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race with Taylor leading Lazar among likely voters.”

— Marquette Law School Poll, March 2026

Marquette Law School Poll

The March 2026 Marquette survey had a margin of error of +/-4.4 percentage points for registered voters (850 respondents) and +/-5.3 percentage points for likely voters (597 respondents). Among likely voters, 30% supported Taylor and 22% favored Lazar, with 46% undecided. The same poll found 53% of registered voters undecided with 7% saying they wouldn’t vote.

Partisan Division and Independents

The March polling revealed sharp ideological lines. Republicans heavily preferred Lazar while Democrats heavily backed Taylor. Independents leaned toward Taylor, though a sizable group indicated they would not vote in the Supreme Court race. More Republicans than Democrats remained undecided among registered voters, suggesting different engagement levels across parties.

Court Approval Ratings

The Wisconsin Supreme Court held a net positive approval rating since 2023. In February 2026, approval stood at 49%, declining to 46% in March with 37% disapproval. The state court was viewed more favorably than the U.S. Supreme Court during the same period.

Bottom line: Undecided voters broke heavily toward Taylor on election night, exceeding polling forecasts and producing a 20-point margin that doubled the margin of the past three liberal wins.

Who are the WI Supreme Court candidates 2026?

Both candidates brought extensive judicial experience to the race. Chris Taylor, the liberal-backed option, is a Court of Appeals judge who ultimately secured 60% of the vote. Maria Lazar, backed by conservative interests, is also a Court of Appeals judge who received 40% in the final count.

“Taylor ahead by 20 points, overperformance versus 2024.”

— NBC Decision Desk

Chris Taylor Profile

Taylor ran as a Court of Appeals judge with Democratic Party backing. Her victory made her the fourth straight Democratic-backed candidate to win a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat. She became the first Democratic-aligned candidate since 2015 to win a majority of Wisconsin’s counties, a geographic breadth that exceeded previous liberal wins.

Maria Lazar Profile

Lazar, a conservative-backed Court of Appeals judge, lost the election with 600,044 votes. Despite strong Republican support in polling, she could not overcome Taylor’s cross-party appeal. Republicans heavily preferred Lazar, but many remained undecided, a dynamic that shaped pre-election coverage.

The context

Despite formal non-partisan labels, the race carried clear ideological stakes. Democrats backed Taylor; Republicans backed Lazar. Both parties invested heavily in a race that became the most expensive judicial election in history.

What are the WI Supreme Court election results?

The FOX 11 Online reported the final numbers: Taylor received 905,157 votes (60%) while Lazar received 600,044 votes (40%). The 20-point margin doubled the margin of the past three liberal Supreme Court victories.

The implication: Taylor’s decisive win signals Democratic strength in down-ballot judicial races that could influence future court composition battles.

Live Results and AP Call

The Associated Press called the race for Taylor at 8:36 p.m. when she had 61.6% of the vote with approximately 36% of votes counted. The early call reflected her decisive lead from the start of ballot counting.

Geographic Breadth

Taylor became the first Democratic-aligned candidate since 2015 to win a majority of Wisconsin’s counties. This geographic success exceeded previous liberal wins and suggested crossover appeal beyond traditional Democratic strongholds.

Margin Significance

The 20-point margin is the largest in a Wisconsin Supreme Court race since 2000. Voting patterns suggest a persistence of political polarization similar to the 2024 presidential election, but Taylor’s margin indicated Democratic strength in down-ballot judicial races.

Why this matters

Taylor’s 20-point margin was double the margin of the past three liberal Supreme Court victories. This electoral cushion matters for court legitimacy—the broader the winning mandate, the harder for the losing side to claim the court lacks public support.

What is the WI Supreme Court election prediction?

Pre-election analysis focused on the large undecided voter cohorts. The March Marquette poll showed 46% of likely voters undecided just weeks before the election—a significant wild card that made precise prediction difficult.

What this means: The massive undecided blocs ultimately broke toward Taylor, defying pre-election models that anticipated a closer finish.

Polling Trends

February polling showed 66% of registered voters undecided with 17% for Taylor and 12% for Lazar. Among likely voters in February, 22% supported Taylor and 15% chose Lazar, with 62% undecided. The race tightened as election day approached, with undecided voters declining but remaining substantial.

Voter Undecideds

Majorities of registered voters remained undecided throughout the pre-election period. More Republicans than Democrats stayed undecided, suggesting different engagement levels. A sizable group of independents said they would not vote in the Supreme Court race, raising questions about turnout composition.

The catch

Despite consistent Taylor leads in polling, her actual margin (20 points) exceeded what pre-election forecasts predicted. The large undecided cohorts ultimately broke heavily toward Taylor, defying models that expected a closer finish.

Who are the WI Supreme Court justices?

The Wisconsin Supreme Court shifted from a 4-3 conservative majority to a 4-3 liberal majority following the 2023 election. Taylor’s victory expands the liberal bloc to 5-2, fundamentally altering the court’s balance.

Current Court Composition

With Taylor’s win, the court now has a 5-2 liberal majority. The court previously tipped from conservative to liberal control in 2023, and the 2025 race (the most expensive judicial election in history at that point) further shaped the ideological landscape. Rebecca Bradley, an incumbent conservative justice, remains on the court as part of the 2-member minority.

Election Impact

The 2026 election was for a ten-year term. Taylor’s victory secures the liberal majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court until at least August 2030, when her term would be halfway complete. Future turnover will eventually create openings, but the immediate ideological balance is settled.

Upsides

  • Decisive 20-point mandate exceeds historical norms
  • Liberal majority secured through 2030
  • First Democratic candidate since 2015 to win most counties
  • Rulings on abortion, maps, unions face clearer path

Downsides

  • Partisan polarization mirrors presidential patterns
  • Conservative minority will contest liberal rulings
  • Future turnover creates new competitive seats
  • High spending in judicial elections continues

Related reading: Article 2 of the Constitution · Is Elon Musk a US Citizen

Additional sources

law.marquette.edu, youtube.com, law.marquette.edu, guides.vote

Taylor’s dominant 60-40 win builds on the momentum from last year’s Crawford’s 2025 victory, which preserved the court’s narrow liberal majority amid record spending.

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Frequently asked questions

What date was the 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court election?

The election was held on April 7, 2026. Chris Taylor defeated Maria Lazar by a 20-point margin (60% to 40%).

How many undecided voters were there in the Marquette poll?

The March 2026 Marquette poll found 53% of registered voters undecided and 7% saying they wouldn’t vote. Among likely voters, 46% remained undecided weeks before the election.

Is the WI Supreme Court race partisan?

Despite formal non-partisan labels, the race carried clear ideological dimensions. Democrats backed Taylor; Republicans backed Lazar. Polling showed Republicans heavily preferred Lazar while Democrats heavily preferred Taylor.

What is the significance of the 2026 WI Supreme Court election?

Taylor’s victory shifted the court to a 5-2 liberal majority, the largest such majority in years. The 20-point margin was the largest in a Wisconsin Supreme Court race since 2000. The liberal majority is now secured until at least August 2030.

Where can I find WI Supreme Court election results?

Results are documented by multiple outlets including FOX 11 Online and The Daily Cardinal.

What past results influenced the 2026 race?

The 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election was the most expensive judicial election in history at that time. The 2025 race surpassed that record, becoming the most expensive judicial election ever. Both races shaped the ideological context for 2026.

How does the 2026 race compare to previous elections?

Taylor’s 20-point margin doubled the margin of the past three liberal Supreme Court victories. She became the first Democratic-aligned candidate since 2015 to win a majority of Wisconsin’s counties. Voting patterns mirrored the 2024 presidential election’s polarization.

How did polling compare to actual results?

Pre-election Marquette polling showed Taylor leading among likely voters (30% to 22%) with 46% undecided. Her actual 20-point margin exceeded what forecasts predicted, with undecided voters breaking heavily toward Taylor on election day.

For Wisconsin voters, Taylor’s victory demonstrates that Democratic-backed judicial candidates can win decisively in statewide races. Republicans now face the challenge of rebuilding a competitive candidate pipeline before the next open seat, while conservatives must contend with a 5-2 liberal majority that will shape court rulings through at least 2030.