Wisconsin Supreme Court conservative justice Rebecca Bradley said Friday that she would not seek reelection when her term is up in 2026.
“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.
Her announcement leaves the race open with no incumbent candidate.
Bradley was appointed to the state Supreme Court by then-Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) in 2015 and was elected to a full 10-year term in 2016. She was one of the most outspoken justices on the court.
Her announcement comes after she did not raise any money for her campaign in the last campaign finance reporting period. She had previously indicated that she would run.
The 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race made history as the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history, beating the state’s 2023 Supreme Court race, which, at the time, was the most expensive judicial race. Justice Susan Crawford and her conservative opponent Brad Schimel raised a combined $100 million. Crawford beat Schimel by 10 points.
The state’s 2026 Supreme Court race will be less high-stakes than the last two, because there is not the opportunity for voters to sway the ideological leaning of the court. Crawford’s win solidified liberal-leaning justices control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court until at least 2028.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court elections are technically nonpartisan, but the last two races have seen millions donated by partisan groups. State Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor, a liberal, was the first candidate to enter the race, announcing her campaign in May.
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Liberal-leaning candidates have won four of the last five Wisconsin Supreme Court elections by double-digit margins. If conservatives lose Bradley’s seat next year, the court’s 4-3 liberal majority will grow to 5-2. Another conservative justice is up for reelection in 2027.
A primary will be held in February. The election will take place on April 7, 2026.