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April 6, 2027
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| Elections in Wisconsin |
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The 2027 Wisconsin Supreme Court election will be held on April 6, 2027, to elect a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court for a ten-year term. Incumbent justice Annette Ziegler has announced that she will not run for re-election after serving on the court since August 2007. The filing deadline to appear on the ballot is January 1, 2027.
Ziegler is associated with the conservative minority on the court, meaning that the 2027 election is not expected to affect the ideological majority of the court. However, a liberal victory would result in the court having a 6–1 liberal majority, further solidifying their majority until at least 2033.
Background
The Wisconsin Supreme Court tipped from a 4–3 conservative majority to a 4–3 liberal majority due to the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election, which at that time was the most expensive judicial election in history. The liberals retained their 4–3 majority in the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election, when that race surpassed 2023 to become the most expensive judicial election in history. The liberals increased their majority to 5–2 after the 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court election, which secured a liberal majority until 2030.
The incumbent in 2027, Annette Ziegler, is a member of the conservative minority, and therefore the outcome of the election will not change the court's controlling ideology. If a liberal-backed candidate wins this race, it will result in a 6–1 liberal majority, solidifying their majority through 2033.
Ziegler announced in March 2026 that she would not run for re-election.[1] This will be the fourth consecutive Wisconsin Supreme Court election without an incumbent on the ballot, an unprecedented streak.[a]
Candidates
Declared
- Lyndsey Brunette,[b] Clark County circuit judge (2018–present) and former Clark County district attorney (2012–2016)[4]
- Pedro Colón,[c] Wisconsin Court of Appeals judge (2023–present) and former state representative (1999–2011)[6]
Declined
- Shelley Grogan, Wisconsin Court of Appeals judge (2021–present)[7]
- Annette Ziegler,[d] incumbent Supreme Court justice (2007–present)[1]
Endorsements
Statewide officials
- Barbara Lawton, former lieutenant governor of Wisconsin (2003–2011) (Democratic)[8]
State legislators
- Jamie Wall, state senator from the 30th district (2025–present) (Democratic)[9]
U.S. representatives
- Gwen Moore, WI-4 (2005–present) (Democratic)[10]
- Mark Pocan, WI-2 (2013–present) (Democratic)[11]
Judicial officials
- Chris Taylor, justice-elect of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Wisconsin Court of Appeals judge (2023–present)[12]
See also
Notes
- Prior to the current streak of four, there had never been a streak of more than two consecutive open seat supreme court elections in Wisconsin history. The previous consecutive streaks of open seat Wisconsin supreme court elections were:[2]
- Described by media outlets as liberal[3]
- Described by media outlets as liberal[5]
- Described by media outlets as conservative[1]
References
- van Wagtendonk, Anya (March 9, 2026). "Conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler to retire". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
- Ostermeier, Dr Eric (January 13, 2025). "Wisconsin Supreme Court 2025 Election by the Numbers". Smart Politics (University of Minnesota). Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- Ross, JR. "Clark County judge tells WisPolitics she's passing on Supreme Court bid in '26". State Affairs. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
Boon Brunette was elected DA for the central Wisconsin county as a Dem in 2012, serving one term.
- Beck, Molly. "Liberal candidate makes early entry into 2027 Supreme Court race". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved April 16, 2026.
- Kremer, Rich (April 28, 2026). "Liberal Judge Pedro Colón enters 2027 Wisconsin Supreme Court race". WPR. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
- Wethal, Kimberly (April 28, 2026). "Appeals Court Judge Pedro Colón launches bid for Supreme Court". Wisconsin State Journal.
- Beck, Molly (April 8, 2026). "Liberals now hold a 5-2 majority. There's another race next year: On the liberal side, names being floated are Clark County Judge Lyndsey Boon Brunette and State Appeals Judge Pedro Colón. I have not yet heard who might run on the conservative side. State Appeals Judge Shelley Grogan told me today she won't run". X.
- "Former Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton endorses Judge Lyndsey Brunette for Wisconsin Supreme Court". Lyndsey Brunette for Supreme Court (Press release). April 21, 2026. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via Wispolitics.com.
- "Brunette campaign: State Senator Jamie Wall endorses Judge Lyndsey Brunette for Wisconsin Supreme Court". WisPolitics. April 22, 2026. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
- "Colón campaign: Congresswoman Gwen Moore endorses Judge Pedro Colón" (Press release). May 5, 2026. Retrieved May 5, 2026 – via Wispolitics.com.
- "U.S. Rep. Pocan: Endorses Judge Pedro Colón". Pedro Colón for Supreme Court (Press release). April 30, 2026. Retrieved April 30, 2026 – via Wispolitics.com.
- "Colón campaign: Justice-elect Chris Taylor endorses Judge Pedro Colón". Pedro Colón for Supreme Court (Press release). April 29, 2026. Retrieved April 29, 2026 – via Wispolitics.com.
External links
- Official campaign websites