The morning after the 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court election everything looked the same. But it wasn’t. The state that delivered a presidential victory to Donald Trump in 2024 had just delivered a liberal extremist, Chris Taylor, a 20-point win over conservative Maria Lazar, and increased the liberal majority on the Court to 5:2, a margin that will be maintained for at least the next 4 years. The implications of a liberal majority that can block any appeal and has shown a willingness, perhaps even eagerness, to legislate from the bench are still sinking in. This disastrous outcome merits reflection.
The Candidates
Maria Lazar was an excellent candidate. She is an experienced judge at the Circuit Court and Appeals Court level. She campaigned truthfully, with optimism, transparency, and a commitment to educating the public about the importance of an independent judiciary in maintaining the crucial balance with the Executive and Legislative branches. She promoted the fact she has never affiliated with a political party as an advantage for a Supreme Court Justice, stressing how critical it is that judges consider only the letter of the law and facts of the case when rendering opinions. She provided extensive information about her past opinions to give voters the opportunity to evaluate for themselves how she operates as a judge. Lazar hit back hard to correct the lies Taylor and her supporters told about her on a regular basis but never resorted to the ugliness that incessantly came her way.
Lazar was severely disadvantaged by the late decision of conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley not to run for reelection (Lazar did not enter the race until October. Taylor entered the race in May.) and her fundraising deficit of just under $700,000 to Taylor’s $5.2 million, but you never would have known it by watching her work.
Chris Taylor is a liar. There is no way to sugar coat what was in plain view throughout the campaign. She has a long record of liberal extremism that is easily tracked through her time as Public Policy Director of Planned Parenthood and her decade as an elected Democrat in the Wisconsin Legislature. She denied the fact that she is a Democrat during the campaign despite having identified herself as such when completing election paperwork. Taylor spent the campaign trying to hide who she is from the voters to deceive them into voting for her. She avoided side by side appearances with Lazar to keep from being exposed, and would agree to just one debate, which was conveniently postponed so late in the campaign it was unlikely to have much impact.
Taylor and her supporters actively and knowingly lied about Lazar throughout the campaign, most notably taking excerpts of statements she made, totally changing their meaning, and trying to create the impression she would try to ban abortion.
Taylor denied she will legislate from the bench, danced around recusal questions, and proclaimed her judicial independence. In one example of the skill with which Taylor lies, she would not commit to recusing herself from any litigation concerning Act 10 that comes before the Court, despite the fact the public record shows her as a fierce critic of the law throughout her political career. Wisconsin voters will now have an opportunity to compare her words to her actions, but Taylor will have a 10-year term to protect her from the wrath of the voters when she performs as we know she will.
The Media
The dishonest media will remain one of the greatest threats to freedom unless they are replaced by a new generation of journalists committed to following the truth wherever it leads and unbiased reporting in service to the American people. To date, there is no evidence of the rebirth of journalistic integrity. The responsibility of the media during this (and every) election was to answer the question thoroughly and objectively, “Who are candidates Maria Lazar and Chris Taylor”? Just the facts. They failed. Instead, they allowed Chris Taylor to make whatever assertions she wished, unchallenged and unchecked. This is paradise for a practiced liar.
One unexpectedly bright media light emerged in this election. The single debate was moderated by Matt Smith and Garron Jordan of WISN 12 in Milwaukee and was by far the best we’ve seen in any election. They optimized the time available with important questions, allowed each candidate to speak without interference, followed up on evasive answers, and did not editorialize, allowing the viewers to perceive them as neutral and focus on the candidates.
The Political Parties
The Republican and Democratic Parties are a big part of what is wrong with our political system. Power and money are their central concerns. They have a stranglehold on the political process, robbing the voters of meaningful voice. They hold tight control over choosing and managing candidates and determining priorities.
The Republican Party does not represent the conservative voters of Wisconsin. It is controlled by elitists who deprive the grass roots of influence. When the members of several district parties replaced their leadership with members more aligned with their priorities, the state level Executive Committee devised a rule that would allow them to remove leaders who they determine are not toeing the Party line. Last year, the members passed resolutions at the state convention to force the Party leaders to address election verifiability. They ignored them. This year, the Party elites decided to stop accepting resolutions from the members.
People who are well connected in the Republican Party often comment that Brian Schimming, Chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, is a great guy to have a beer with but completely ineffective as Chair. We need leadership, not a drinking buddy. I received numerous requests for donations from the Republican Party during this election cycle evoking Maria Lazar’s name. I was disgusted, but not surprised, to learn that the Republican Party contributed less than $70,000 to Lazar, as compared with the $775,000 the Democratic Party contributed to Taylor. Should Brian Schimming earn easily more than double, probably closer to triple, what the Party contributed to Maria Lazar in such a crucial Supreme Court race? All Brian Schimming had to offer Republicans after Lazar’s devastating defeat was, “Stay united and continue fighting for our conservative values.”
The Voters
How is it possible that just over 1.5 million voters, slightly more than 40% of those who are eligible, exercised their precious right to vote in an election with so much at stake? The answer to this important question holds the key to the future. Our ancestors fought and died to give us the right to self-determination, and yet this is where we are.
History is filled with lessons of people who let freedom slip away from them. It often happens subtly. When people are frightened, they may be willing to sacrifice freedom in exchange for perceived security. Millions of Americans allowed themselves to be manipulated by the Government during the COVID pandemic.
People may give up freedom for perceived economic security or “the greater good” as so many in New York are doing today in exchange for promises from their communist mayor for a life filled with “free stuff.”
Apathy and complacency will overtake free people who fail to understand that freedom requires responsibility. It was Ronald Reagan who sounded the alarm years ago with, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. It has to be fought for and defended by each generation”. Freedom can easily disappear if we misjudge the importance of lovingly guarding it, mistakenly believing we can take it for granted and never lose it.
Forward
In 1851, Wisconsin adopted “Forward” as the state motto to embrace a proactive attitude and as a reminder to stay focused on the future.
It’s time to move forward from this devastating election defeat. Achieving election verifiability in Wisconsin must remain a high priority and will likely require the assistance of the Federal Department of Justice. Recruiting high quality candidates for elected office, overcoming the corrupt media, reforming the corrupt political parties, and addressing our own complacency all need our urgent attention.
The battle for freedom wages on. There is no greater cause than freedom and no life worth living without it.
