MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court justice who was first elected in 2007 announced Monday that she will not seek a third 10-year term next year, giving liberals another chance to expand their majority as cases affecting redistricting, union rights, school funding and other hot-button issues are pending.
Judge Annette Ziegler, 62, becomes the second conservative justice in as many years to decide not to seek re-election after liberals took majority control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2023. Last year, liberals maintained their majority in a race that broke national spending records, with billionaire Elon Musk traveling to the state to hand out $1 million checks to conservative voters.
Another election for an open seat will be held on April 7 due to conservative Judge Rebecca Bradley’s decision not to run for re-election. Liberal candidate Court of Appeals Judge Chris Taylor defeated her conservative opponent, Court of Appeals Judge Maria Lazar, by allowing her to spend more on television ads in a race that has so far been low-key because the court majority is non-existent.
The Liberals are seeking to win a fourth consecutive Supreme Court race since 2020 and solidify their position on the court.
Ziggler’s decision to resign means there will be another open match next year. If the Liberals win this year, their majority will increase to 5-2, and by 2027, their majority could increase to 6-1. If the conservative candidate wins this year, the liberal majority will maintain a 4-3 advantage, and the best conservatives can do next year is to keep it at 4-3.
Ziegler has consistently sided with conservative justices, including in 2020, when the court failed by one vote to overturn President Donald Trump’s election defeat that year. Ziegler was in the minority after conservatives swung the justices to the liberal side.
Cases expected to come to court in the coming years include challenges to congressional district maps, the future of state laws that effectively end collective bargaining for most public employees and efforts to increase public school spending.
Since taking control of the court, the Liberals have repealed state abortion bans and ordered new legislative maps, bolstering Democrats’ hopes of gaining a majority this November.
Ziegler serves as chief justice from 2021 to 2025 and previously served as a Washington County Circuit Court judge for 10 years.
“Now is the perfect time for me to step away and spend more time with my husband, children and grandchildren,” she said in a statement.
“I am extremely proud that in all my elections I have had the support of a broad range of legal, civic, law enforcement and political leaders, both Democratic and Republican, who believe in my commitment to fairness, ethics and the rule of law,” Ziegler said.
The election date to replace Ziegler is April 6, 2027.