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Wisconsin Supreme Court Elections 2026

Wisconsin Supreme Court justices are chosen in nonpartisan elections to 10-year terms — no party labels on the ballot — and must run again to keep their seats.

Rules as of October 15, 2026 · candidates as of October 15, 2026 · source Ballotpedia

Are judges elected in Wisconsin?

Highest court
Wisconsin Supreme Court — 7 justices
How chosen
Nonpartisan election
Voters
Voters elect justices
Term
10 years
To serve again
Run for re-election
2026 ballot
1 seat, decided Apr 7, 2026

How Wisconsin chooses its judges

Wisconsin Supreme Court justices are chosen in nonpartisan elections to 10-year terms — no party labels on the ballot — and must run again to keep their seats.

  • Seats: 7 justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
  • Term: 10 years.
  • To serve again: Run for re-election.
  • Other courts: Appeals and circuit judges use nonpartisan elections.

Elections are held each April, and only one seat can be on the ballot in a given year.

Compare every state on the judicial selection table.

Wisconsin Supreme Court elections in 2026

Wisconsin decided its seat on April 7, 2026, so no Wisconsin Supreme Court race is on the November ballot.

Open seat

Decided
  • Chris Taylor (winner)Won
  • Maria S. Lazar

Candidates as of October 15, 2026 from Ballotpedia. Party labels are not shown because they do not appear on the ballot.

How to research judges on your Wisconsin ballot

  • Your sample ballot: Wisconsin’s official election site shows every judicial race on your ballot, including local courts.
  • Deadlines and voting options: How to vote in Wisconsin — registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
  • Candidate details: Ballotpedia tracks each candidate’s background, endorsements and spending; local news and the state bar often publish candidate surveys.

Judicial ethics rules bar candidates from promising how they will rule, so a judge’s record and experience usually say more than campaign ads. This site does not endorse or rate candidates.

Federal judges in Wisconsin

Federal judges are never on a ballot: the President nominates them and the U.S. Senate confirms them for life. Wisconsin’s two senators vote on every nominee and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.

Wisconsin’s senators: Ron Johnson (Republican) and Tammy Baldwin (Democratic).

Confirmed by recorded vote in 2026

No federal judge for a court in Wisconsin has been confirmed by roll-call vote in 2026.

District judges for courts in Wisconsin and circuit judges from the state. Judges confirmed by voice vote leave no roll call; the Senate’s list of confirmed nominations has them. Roll calls from the snapshot refreshed Oct 1, 2026.

Open federal judgeships

The U.S. Courts list no vacant district judgeship in Wisconsin as of October 15, 2026.

Source: uscourts.gov current judicial vacancies. Every vacancy nationwide is on the judicial elections hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are judges elected in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin Supreme Court justices are chosen in nonpartisan elections to 10-year terms — no party labels on the ballot — and must run again to keep their seats. Appeals and circuit judges use nonpartisan elections.

How long is a term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court?

10 years. At the end of a term, they must run again to keep their seats.

Who is running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2026?

Wisconsin's seat was decided on April 7, 2026: Chris Taylor.

How do I research judges on my Wisconsin ballot?

Your sample ballot from https://elections.wi.gov/Register lists every judicial race, including local courts. Ballotpedia, local news and the state bar cover candidates' experience and endorsements.

Who appoints federal judges in Wisconsin?

The President nominates and the U.S. Senate confirms them; they serve for life. Wisconsin's senators, Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin, vote on every nomination and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.

Related

Judicial Elections in Every State

How all 50 states choose judges, every 2026 supreme court race, and federal confirmations.

How to Vote in Wisconsin

Registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.

Wisconsin Senators & Representatives

Your delegation in Congress and when each term ends.

What Can Congress Do?

Can Congress declare war, override a veto, impeach a cabinet member, remove a senator, overrule the Supreme Court, or invoke the 25th Amendment? Question by question, with live vote math.