With a potential recount on the horizon, Appeals Court Judge Brian Hagedorn described his nearly 6,000 vote lead in the Supreme Court race as “insurmountable.”
Hagedorn told reporters during a press conference in Pewaukee today that a few days back people on his team told him there’s no precedent for being outspent the way he was and winning.
“But there is now,” Hagedorn said. “We made history. We made history in a significant way and our margin of victory appears to be insurmountable.”
Hagedorn said given the margin, a recount “wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense,” but should opponent Lisa Neubauer seek one, his campaign is legally and financially prepared.
He said Neubauer has not yet reached out to him.
Hagedorn said some of the attacks he faced about his personal views may have motivated voters.
“I think some of the attacks, and not just on me but people of faith more generally, were certainly a part of that, without question,” Hagedorn said.
He pledged to treat all people with respect and dignity.
“I am deeply committed to everything I said throughout this campaign of treating everyone with dignity and respect under the law as I always have and look forward to doing that on the Supreme Court,” he said.
Hagedorn thanked supporters for giving their time and money.
“This was a grassroots campaign,” Hagedorn said. “This was a grassroots effort, an organic campaign of people who spent so much time, people who gave so generously to this campaign and this work.”
Hagedorn said the election results are a victory for the state.
“I’ve run this race saying that my commitment was to the rule of law, that the job of a judge is to say what the law is and not what I think the law should be,” Hagedorn said. “I think that won last night.”
