The spring elections of 2025 were just two months ago and already there are two announced candidates for the 2026 Supreme Court election! Wisconsin Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor, a former Dane County Circuit Court Judge and State Legislator, has announced that she is running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court in the spring 2026 election. The incumbent, Justice Rebecca Bradley, also a former Appeals Court Judge and a Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge, has also announced her candidacy. Justice Bradley was previously elected to a ten-year term in 2016 after being appointed to the Supreme Court by Governor Scott Walker in 2015.

Although this is a non-partisan election, Justice Bradley is considered the conservative candidate and Judge Taylor is considered the liberal candidate. Taylor was appointed to the Dane County Circuit Court by Governor Evers in 2020 after being a Democrat in the State Assembly while serving a very liberal district that included downtown Madison. Further, candidate Taylor has already been endorsed by the three liberal Justices on the Supreme Court and the liberal Justice-elect. Liberals currently hold a four-to-three majority in the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Conservatives generally follow the “Rule of Law” meaning they depend on the Constitution and what is actually written in the law. They want “just the facts.” They leave their personal likes and dislikes, or personal preferences, at the door. Liberals, on the other hand, tend to follow their personal likes and dislikes; maybe ruling on preconceived assumptions. Considering all the judicial activities in the news recently, to include activities in Washington, D.C. the past few years, and one should value “the Rule of Law.” You don’t have to go to Washington, D.C. just consider the Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge that was recently suspended for interfering with an illegal immigrant.

Judge Taylor grew up in Southern California and graduated from high school in Van Nuys, CA. Remember in the summer of 2024 when Minnesota Governor Tim Walz—the Democrat Vice Presidential candidate—thought Vice Presidential Candidate JD Vance was weird simply because he has a degree from an Ivy League college? Well, Chris Taylor must be weird too as she has a degree from the University of Pennsylvania which is an Ivy League college. Both candidates, however, attended the University of Wisconsin Law School.

The Wisconsin Court of Appeals also elects judges in the spring election for six year terms. There is no election in District III which includes Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties. District III will next have an election in 2027. District IV which includes the rest of the Coulee Region counties (Jackson, Monroe, Vernon, and La Crosse) plus Juneau, Crawford, and several other counties has an election contest. Judge Rachel A. Graham, the incumbent, was appointed by Governor Evers in 2019, elected in 2020, and expected to run in 2026. Graham attended the University of Wisconsin Law School but has no experience as a judge at the Circuit Court level.

This past spring there was an election in both Appeals Court Districts in the Coulee Region. Both elections were won by an uncontested incumbent.

Then there are the county circuit courts, many of which may have an election for judge(s) in 2026. Spring election 2026 may be coming soon but there is plenty of time for conservative-minded lawyers to consider and mount a campaign for County Circuit Court judge or even Appeals Court judge. (See Wisconsin Blue Book 2023-2024, pages 263-265 for more information.) One consideration regarding the Appeals Court is where the Courts sit. District III meets in Wausau and District IV meets in Madison and neither of these cities is considered commuting distance from the Coulee Region. Remember the tuba playing Supreme Court candidate from Sauk County a few years ago? Sauk County is in District IV so there is a possible candidate!

Chairmen of the Republican Parties of the Coulee Region counties need to research their respective County Circuit Courts considering possible election opportunities in 2026 or even 2027 and then publicize the possibilities. Then other like-minded conservative organizations need to join the election fight. The elected judicial positions in Wisconsin are just too important to allow the liberals free reign.

“We the people” need to find the quality conservative candidates for Wisconsin’s judicial elections and then encourage, educate, and energize their campaigns. Wisconsin’s future depends on it!