With primary election day now behind us, we are less than seven weeks away from the April 7th general election for Wisconsin Supreme Court. Since launching her campaign last May, Judge Chris Taylor has built a strong campaign fueled by grassroots enthusiasm, key endorsements, and record-setting fundraising. Her campaign’s momentum reflects the stark choice voters have in this race between a judge who will protect their rights and freedoms and an extremist who will use the Court to take those rights away.
Judge Taylor enters the general election in a position of strength. In the most recent fundraising period alone, her campaign raised more than $820,000 from over 10,000 individual contributors. Since launching, the campaign has raised more than $4 million from nearly 23,000 supporters, with an average donation under $100.
The campaign has also moved early to define the race on the airwaves, and released the first TV ad of the cycle as part of a statewide ad buy that will exceed $1 million in the coming days. The ad is currently airing across the Madison, Milwaukee, and Green Bay media markets on broadcast and cable, as well as digital outlets, and will continue through Election Day.
Judge Taylor will face right-wing special interests’ and political insiders’ hand-picked recruit Maria Lazar in the general election. Lazar previously defended Scott Walker’s extreme agenda as his attorney, supported Republican gerrymandering of our state legislative maps, and worked to strip reproductive care away from Wisconsinites. On the bench, she has consistently ruled in favor of special interests, often to see her decisions overturned.
Throughout her campaign she has reaffirmed her extreme positions. She called the decision to repeal Roe v. Wade, “very wise,” said she would have voted to enforce Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban. And just last month, she said that a six-week abortion ban would be a “compromise position,” signaling to our state legislature that she will uphold such a law.
Since entering the race in October, Lazar’s fundraising has been dismal and largely kept afloat by right-wing billionaires and high-dollar donors. She’s raised just over $436,000 from fewer than 500 contributors, with an average donation of nearly $900. Lazar ended last year with only 25 contributions of $100 or less – a clear sign she is banking on ultra-wealthy donors. A stark contrast to Judge Taylor’s people-powered campaign.
But we are not mistaking early weakness for a safe race. Wisconsin Supreme Court contests have a history of late outside spending. Elon Musk didn’t jump in until around this point last year, then dumped tens of millions into the state to buy a seat. Lazar may be underfunded now, but that could change fast, which is why the Taylor campaign is staying ready.
The importance of a pro-freedom, pro-democracy majority on our State Supreme Court is more important than ever. Today, state courts are often the last line of defense as Americans’ fundamental rights and freedoms come under attack. Voters will understand the choice they have in this race and proudly support Judge Chris Taylor because she has always fought to protect their rights and the people of our state.
