Protasiewicz powers through

Record turnout catapults liberals to rst Supreme Court majority in 15 years

By Hope Karnopp and Tyler Katzenberger NEWS MANAGER AND STATE NEWS EDITOR MILWAUKEE, Wis. —

Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewicz defeated former Justice Dan Kelly by a wide margin late Tuesday in the race for an open Wisconsin Supreme Court seat, transforming the state’s political landscape.

Protasiewicz’s election gives the court its first liberal majority in 15 years, poising it to hear challenges to Wisconsin’s abortion ban, voting maps and other Democratic priorities.

“Our state is taking a step forward to a better, brighter future where our rights and freedoms will be protected,” Protasiewicz said in her victory speech Tuesday. “While there is still work to be done, tonight we celebrate this historic victory that has obviously reignited hope in so many of us.”

The Associated Press called the race for Protasiewicz less than an hour after polls closed.

As of 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Protasiewicz led 55.5% to Kelly’s 45.5% with 99% of the vote counted, according to tracking by POLITICO. In 2020, Kelly lost to Justice Jill Karofsky by about 11 points statewide.

In Dane County, a liberal strong- hold key to Democratic turnout, Protasiewicz received 82% of the vote compared to Kelly’s 18%, with most precincts reporting. Kelly lost the county by a similar margin to liberal Justice Jill Karofsky in 2020.

The race was by far the most expensive of its kind in state and national history. Spending approached $42 million, according to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, which tracks money in campaigns.

Kelly’s statement following his loss referenced disputes about political ads and Protasiewicz’s comments on abortion and maps, which he said showed a “blatant disregard for judicial ethics and the integrity of the court.”

“I do not have a worthy opponent to which I can concede,” Kelly said.

Abortion, voting maps central to campaign

Protasiewicz campaigned heavily against Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban and Republicandrawn voting maps, which she and her supporters called “rigged” on multiple occasions.

Wisconsin Democrats gathered at the St. Kate Hotel in Milwaukee erupted into cheers as the race was called for Protasiewicz.

Democrats spent previous months attempting and failing to eliminate Wisconsin’s near-total abortion ban, which took e ect after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last June. The issue is expected to come before the state court’s newfound liberal majority, who Democrats expect would strike the ban.

Wisconsin’s voting maps could also land before the new court. The maps, which heavily favor Republicans, enabled the GOP to maintain sizable Assembly and Senate majorities in the past decade — even when Democratic candidates outperformed Republican opponents by multiple points.

Protasiewicz told the Cap Times in February she would “enjoy taking a fresh look” at the Republican-drawn maps installed by a 4-3 Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling last year.

“Throughout my career, I’ve seen our judicial system up close, and I believe in something that is universal to Wisconsinites all across our state and that is that everyone should get a fair shot to demand justice and not feel like the thumb is on the scale against them,” Protasiewicz said Tuesday.

Campaigns visited campus ahead of election

Both judicial campaigns vis- ited the University of WisconsinMadison ahead of Election Day. Kelly spoke to the College Republicans and Republican Party of Dane County last week. Former Lt. Gov. and U.S. Senate candidate Mandela Barnes and Justice Jill Karofsky campaigned for Protasiewicz.

Lines for polls on UW-Eau Claire’s campus also drew attention on Twitter, highlighting the importance of college-age voters on Tuesday.

Sarah Nehls, vote coordinator for the Associated Students of Madison, said she and other organizers worked for months to galvanize UW-Madison students ahead of Tuesday’s election.

Preliminary voting data was “really, really impressive” as of late Tuesday, according to Nehls. She said final results could rival student turnout numbers from the 2022 elections, when campus voting wards averaged just shy of 60% turnout among registered voters, according to state elections data.

“This is likely a record-breaking spring election, especially here on campus,” Nehls said. “Students clearly made their voices heard.”

Protasiewicz will assume her state Supreme Court seat on Aug. 1.

“I’m glad the voters in Madison had confidence in the work my administration has done over the past four years, and I’m eager to keep working on the things that Madison cares about,” Rhodes-Conway said. “We need to focus on public safety and traffic safety, on investing in our economy in an equitable way and supporting our young people, and making sure we are still tackling the climate crisis, because that hasn’t gone away.”

Rhodes-Conway was first elected mayor in 2019, unseating longtime incumbent Paul Soglin. She is the first openly LGBTQ mayor in city history and the second woman to hold the position.

Reyes previously served as deputy mayor, school board president and a Madison police o cer. In her concession speech, Reyes said that while she hoped for di erent results, she was proud of her campaign.

“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”