Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewicz is projected to advance to the Wisconsin general election in the Supreme Court race following Tuesday’s vote.
Protasiewicz ran as a liberal candidate, with the projected win putting her in competition with conservative candidate Daniel Kelly for the open seat for the state’s highest court.
JUST IN: Liberal candidate Janet Protasiewicz advances in Wisconsin Supreme Court race https://t.co/QpzQx9PnFy pic.twitter.com/NEXMYjW6Bg
— The Hill (@thehill) February 22, 2023
The situation
“The state Supreme Court race has drawn national attention given that Roggensack’s retirement leaves an even 3-3 partisan split on the court, meaning that whoever wins the open seat will tilt its ideological makeup,” The Hill reported.
“Among some of the issues that the new state Supreme Court could weigh in on could include abortion rights, redistricting and even possible future election result disputes,” it added.
Emily’s List has endorsed the leading candidate for the WI Supreme Court, Janet Protasiewicz who won her primary race last night. The next WI SC will be deciding abortion rights, voting issues and the next election map. Let’s makes sure #JanetProtasiewicz wins the GE April 4th! pic.twitter.com/Qljk8oVK5m
— 🩺 Sassenach (@sass3366) February 22, 2023
The significance
The liberal’s upcoming election battle against Kelly is vital as the state continues its battle over abortion laws in the state.
“The stakes couldn’t be higher,” says Tanya Atkinson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin, whose political fund has spent nearly $1 million on the November midterms since June. “This election is absolutely about who gets to have power and control over our bodies.”
Wisconsin represents the most likely state of those with limited abortion laws to flip if it’s Supreme Court can be turned to leadership supporting progressive measures. Tuesday’s vote represented a major step in that direction.
And they’ve done it. Janet Protasiewicz, who supports abortion rights, is going to the April 4 general against conservative Dan Kelly, who lost his WI Supreme Court seat in 2020. Via Politico: https://t.co/QW6UrutGus pic.twitter.com/KXz1GGo0rb
— Madison Pauly (@msjpauly) February 22, 2023
A look at the voting breakdown shows the concern for April. Protasiewicz and Mitchell, the two progressives in the first round, accounted for 53.8% of the state’s votes.
Kelly and Dorrow, the two conservatives in the first round, accounted for just 46%.
The rights of the voters on abortion may be put to the test if April’s election goes to Protasiewicz. At least in the case of Wisconsin, voters have the opportunity to decide on justices, giving the people of the state another chance to make their voices known.
The turnout in April will be critical for the future of the pro-life cause in the state and for other conservative issues facing Wisconsin and impacting the nation.