Wisconsin conservative Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley announced Friday she will not run for a second term in the 2026 election, opening the race for new conservative candidates.
Bradley previously indicated plans to seek reelection following liberal Justice Susan Crawford’s win in April, but ultimately decided against it. Her decision follows back-to-back double-digit margin losses for conservative candidates in recent Supreme Court races, both drawing record breaking national spending, including millions from billionaire Elon Musk in Crawford’s April election.
“I will not seek reelection to the Wisconsin Supreme Court because I believe the best path for me to rebuild the conservative movement and fight for liberty is not as a minority member of the Court,” Bradley said in a statement.
In 2023, liberals took control of the Court after Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz won. Liberals have won four of the past five Supreme Court races, ending a 15-year conservative majority. They will remain in control until at least 2028, despite the result of the spring election, and will jump to a 5-2 majority if the liberal candidate wins.
Bradley was appointed to the Court in 2015 by former Republican Gov. Scott Walker and elected to a full 10-year term the following year. Previously, she served as a judge in the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
So far, liberal state Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor is the only announced candidate for the 2026 race.
Zoey Elwood is copy chief for The Daily Cardinal. She also covers state news.
