State’s GOP Falling Apart?

Wisconsin Republicans — still recovering from a string of costly statewide judicial defeats — are now sharply divided over how to approach the state’s next high-stakes Supreme Court race. Many conservatives believe the outcome could shape Wisconsin’s future on election integrity, abortion laws, redistricting, and the balance of power for the next decade.

After losing three major judicial elections since 2020, the once right-leaning Wisconsin Supreme Court is now controlled by an aggressive liberal majority. That shift has already produced sweeping rulings favored by Democrats, setting the stage for an intense showdown in the April election.

Trump-Aligned Messaging vs. Old-School Judicial Tone

According to multiple GOP strategists, the party is split on whether to run a bold, America First-style campaign that energizes Republican voters — or return to the traditional “nonpartisan judicial” messaging that dominated years ago.

Some longtime Republican leaders warn that low voter enthusiasm has cost conservatives race after race.

Brandon Scholz, former executive director of the Wisconsin GOP, offered a blunt warning:
“If candidates don’t clearly tell conservative voters where they stand, turnout collapses — and Democrats will weaponize every anti-Trump voter they can find.”

That dynamic is critical because Democrats have built a well-funded grassroots operation capable of turning out liberal voters during low-turnout spring elections.

A Supreme Court Moving Sharply Left

The upcoming race will decide the replacement to conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley, who announced she will not seek another term when hers ends in 2026. Bradley is one of only three conservative justices remaining on the seven-member court. If liberals expand their majority to 5–2, they will have near-total control over:

• Redistricting battles
• Election rules and ballot challenges
• Gun rights cases
• School funding disputes
• Future abortion-related decisions

The current liberal majority has already struck down Wisconsin’s pre-Civil War abortion law and supported Democrat Gov. Tony Evers’ controversial veto maneuvers. Democrats hope the court will also take up a redistricting challenge before 2026 — making this race even more consequential.

Conservatives Clash Over Winning Path

Conservative candidate Judge Maria Lazar argues that voters want a calmer judicial approach focused on fairness, not partisanship.

“This is not Republican versus Democrat,” Lazar said. “I’m a judge, not a politician.”

She points to last year’s lopsided defeat of conservative Brad Schimel — despite major national support, including from Elon Musk and America First leaders — as evidence that voters are frustrated with political theatrics.

However, many Republican operatives believe backing away from President Donald Trump and the conservative brand is a dangerous mistake. They argue that the GOP cannot win if its own base stays home.

Alec Zimmerman, a former aide to Sen. Ron Johnson, emphasized turnout as the deciding factor.

Zimmerman noted that there isn’t some huge pool of swing voters waiting to be persuaded. In a low-turnout race like this, the side that turns out more supporters will come out on top.

The Candidates So Far

At this stage, only two candidates have entered the race:

• Judge Maria Lazar, running with the backing of conservative voters
• Judge Chris Taylor, a former Democrat lawmaker appointed by Gov. Tony Evers

The Wisconsin GOP has not formally endorsed Lazar but has quietly signaled support for her campaign.

The Bottom Line for Conservatives

The GOP must now make a defining choice: Run a bold, energized campaign that activates Trump-aligned voters — or attempt a quieter, traditional judicial message that hasn’t delivered a win in years.

With the state Supreme Court holding immense power over Wisconsin’s political future, Republicans know this race will determine far more than just one seat — it will determine the direction of the state itself.