MADISON, Wis. (AP) 鈥� The Democratic-backed candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court raised 10 times as much last year as her Republican-endorsed opponent, putting in stark relief the challenge conservatives face in winning the race in the .
The reports filed this week offer the first glimpse at one key measurement of how the race to be decided on April 7 is stacking up. Liberals, who captured the majority in 2023, are optimistic they can win their in a row dating back to 2020 and solidify their hold on the court for years.
The winner is elected to a 10-year term on the state’s highest court, with several hot-button issues pending including and the future of a state law that effectively for most public workers. The next justice will be on the court in the lead-up to the November midterm election where Wisconsin voters will elect a new governor and decide who controls the state Legislature.
Liberals have struck down a and ordered new legislative maps since taking control of the court, fueling Democrats’ hopes of capturing a majority this November.
The Democratic-backed candidate is state Appeals Court Judge , who spent 10 years as a Democratic state lawmaker. She faces the Republicans choice, fellow state Appeals Court Judge , a former prosecutor in the state attorney general’s office.
Taylor on Wednesday said she raised about $2 million in the last half of 2025, for a total of $2.6 million for the year. Lazar said she raised $200,000 since she got into the race in October. Taylor launched her candidacy in May.
Lazar’s campaign downplayed the disparity.
鈥淲e knew starting in October put us behind the fundraising clock, but we aren鈥檛 running a traditional, consultant-driven campaign,鈥� Lazar campaign spokesperson Nathan Conrad said in a statement. 鈥淲hile our opponent relies on a $2 million head start from the same old political machines, Judge Lazar is building a new style of campaign.鈥�
Conrad said Lazar is focused on independent voters who feel disenfranchised “and those who simply want a judge who follows the law, not a political agenda.鈥�
Taylor’s fundraising shows that no one is taking the race for granted given the on last year’s Supreme Court race, her campaign manager Ashley Franz said.
The 2025 race, won by liberal Susan Crawford, shattered national fundraising records for a judicial election, with billionaire spending millions on the conservative candidate. Crawford’s win maintained the liberals’ 4-3 majority on the court. If Taylor wins, that will increase to 5-2 and give liberals the majority until at least 2030, barring any resignations that trigger a special election.
Taylor and Lazar are running for an open seat caused by the .
Taylor’s fundraising at this point is similar to Crawford’s. Last January, Crawford reported raising $2.4 million, but that included $1 million from the Wisconsin Democratic Party. Taylor’s campaign said she will not report receiving any funding from the state Democratic Party.
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