Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley raised no money in the latest campaign finance reporting period, despite being up for reelection next year.
Bradley has not formally announced her reelection bid but told WisPolitics in April that she planned to run to “ensure that there is a voice for the constitution and for the rule of law to preserve that in the state of Wisconsin.”
She has not raised money since 2022 when she reported $700, according to the Associated Press.
Her possible opponent, Wisconsin state Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor, raised $585,000 since launching her campaign in May.
“The overwhelming support for Judge Taylor early in this race shows how committed Wisconsinites are to reinforcing the majority on the court and electing a justice who will protect their rights and freedoms,” Taylor campaign manager Ashley Franz said in a statement. “Judge Taylor’s broad base of support reflects her commitment to serving all Wisconsinites and ensuring our courts remain fair and independent.”
Bradley was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court by then-Gov. Scott Walker in 2015 and won a full 10-year term in 2016. She is one of the most outspoken justices on the court.
Her lack of funds comes as the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race was 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-elect Susan Crawford and her conservative opponent, Brad Schimel, raised a combined $100 million.
Taylor’s haul outpaces that of Crawford’s $460,000 haul in the same time frame.
The state’s 2026 Supreme Court race will be less high-stakes than the last two, as it does not have the ability to sway the ideological leaning of the court. Crawford’s win means liberal-leaning justices will retain control of the high court until at least 2028.
EVERY WISCONSIN COUNTY SHIFTED LEFT IN STATE SUPREME COURT RACE
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.
The election, which is technically nonpartisan, will take place on April 7, 2026.