A Democratic-backed Milwaukee choose received the excessive stakes Wisconsin Supreme Court race Tuesday, guaranteeing liberals will take over majority management of the court docket for the primary time in 15 years with the destiny of the state’s abortion ban pending.
Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Janet Protasiewicz defeated former Justice Dan Kelly, who beforehand labored for Republicans and had assist from the state’s main anti-abortion teams. It’s his second loss in a race for Supreme Court in three years.
The new court docket managed 4-3 by liberals is predicted to resolve a pending lawsuit difficult the state’s 1849 regulation banning abortion. Protasiewicz made the difficulty a spotlight of her marketing campaign and received the assist of Planned Parenthood and different abortion rights teams.
The court docket can also be anticipated to listen to a brand new problem to Republican-drawn legislative maps. Protasiewicz ran as a critic of the present maps, calling them “rigged.”
The court docket got here inside one vote of overturning President Joe Biden’s win within the state in 2020, and each main events are making ready for an additional shut race in 2024.
With a lot at stake, the race grew to become the most costly contest for a state Supreme Court seat in U.S. historical past. Protasiewicz will start her 10-year time period in August. She replaces retiring conservative Justice Pat Roggensack.
