A liberal Milwaukee judge has advanced in Tuesday’s Wisconsin Supreme Court primary, securing one of two spots for the April general election that will determine majority control.
Follow TMJ4's live election results here.
Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Janet Protasiewicz advanced in the four-person race. It was too early to know who also secured enough votes to face her in the April 4 election. Two conservatives and another liberal candidate were running. Conservatives have controlled the state Supreme Court for 15 years, but an open seat this year gives liberals a chance to take over the majority with issues like abortion access, gerrymandered legislative districts and voting rights heading into the 2024 presidential election at stake.
Meanwhile, a Republican lawmaker endorsed by former President Donald Trump has been defeated by a fellow state legislator in a three-way GOP primary for an open Senate seat representing Milwaukee’s northern suburbs. State Rep. Dan Knodl of Germantown beat Trump-backed state Rep. Janel Brandtjen and Thienesville Village President Van Mobley in the 8th Senate District primary. He advances to face Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin in the April 4 general election. The winner will get the seat. Republicans are hoping to gain a two-thirds majority in the Senate. They are just short of a veto-proof majority in the Assembly, as the Associated Press reports.
Big stories to read for the 2023 primary election:
- We interviewed the Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates. Here's how they would shape the state
- Voter turnout seemingly slow for spring primary in Milwaukee
- Republican State Senate District 8 candidates talk historic budget surplus
LIVE BLOG: 2023 Wisconsin Primary Election
10 p.m. update:
Janet Protasiewicz and Daniel Kelly are advancing to the general election for Wisconsin Supreme Court on April 4. Judge Jennifer Dorow conceded Tuesday night.
Wisconsin voters had the choice between two conservative-leaning candidates and two liberal-leaning candidates: Jennifer Dorow and Dan Kelly leaning conservative, Everett Mitchell and Janet Protasiewicz leaning liberal.
Janet Protasiewicz received 47% percent of the vote, while Daniel Kelly received 25% percent of the vote, according to TMJ4 News election results.
The two top vote-getters from the nonpartisan primary on Feb. 21 will advance to the nonpartisan general election on April 4. The seat opened up when Justice Patience Roggensack decided to not run for re-election.
Conservatives currently hold a 4-3 majority in the court, and that lead narrows to 3-3 with conservative-leaning Roggensack off the bench.
9:57 p.m. update:
Judge Jennifer Dorow has conceded in the Supreme Court race.
9:46 p.m. update:
Former Justice Kelly is now up by more than 20,000. The runway is getting shorter for Judge Dorow to try to overcome that lead.
9:34 p.m. update:
The Wisconsin Election Service said Dodge County is having issues getting results and that there is no ETA at this time.
Ozaukee County results will be posted shortly.
9:24 p.m. update:
Former Justice Kelly is now up by 2 percentage points with strong showing out state. Judge Dorow leading in three counties - including new numbers from Sheboygan County.
70% of state vote reporting.
9:08 p.m. update:
Former Justice Kelly with a slight lead over Judge Dorow in the Supreme Court race. 18 counties have yet to report.
9:01 p.m. update:
Judge Protasiewicz takes the stage:
“We only have 6 weeks. I’m not taking a day off, I’m not taking a minute off. We can celebrate tonight but after that our foot is on the pedal," Protasiewicz said.
Judge Protasiewicz takes the stage pic.twitter.com/4arJDUJSFQ
— Mariam Mackar (@mariammackar) February 22, 2023
9 p.m. update:
Dan Knodl is advancing to the general election for Wisconsin's 8th Senate District, in Milwaukee's northern suburbs, the AP projects.
Knodl will face Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin in the April 4 general election.
State Rep. Janel Brandtjen, State Rep. Dan Knodl and Thienesville Village President Van Mobley faced off in the Republican primary election on Feb. 21.
8:49 p.m. update:
With about 50 percent of votes reported, Judge Jennifer Dorow is leading the other judicial conservative in the race, former state Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly. Liberal Judge Janet Protasiewicz has already advanced to the April general election.
8:36 p.m. update:
Liberal Judge Janet Protasiewicz advances in race that will determine majority control of Wisconsin Supreme Court.
A liberal Milwaukee judge has advanced in Tuesday’s Wisconsin Supreme Court primary, securing one of two spots for the April general election that will determine majority control. Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Janet Protasiewicz advanced in the four-person race. It was too early to know who also secured enough votes to face her in the April 4 election. Two conservatives and another liberal candidate were running. Conservatives have controlled the state Supreme Court for 15 years, but an open seat this year gives liberals a chance to take over the majority with issues like abortion access, gerrymandered legislative districts and voting rights heading into the 2024 presidential election at stake.
8:32 p.m. update:
Judge Jennifer Dorow has entered her watch party at the Golden Mast in Okauchee. A lot of people related to the Darrell Brooks trial are here to support, including parade victim Tyler Pudleiner and Waukesha County District Attorney Sue Opper.
8:25 p.m. update:
Results are coming into the TMJ4 election results page. View them here.
8:23 p.m. update:
Update on Supreme Court race:
Just in:
— Charles Benson (@CharlesBenson4) February 22, 2023
In Waukesha County - Judge Dorow with a sizable lead over former Justice Kelly.
Both call the county home. pic.twitter.com/VodKqnljc5
8 p.m. update:
Polls in Wisconsin are now closed.
7:52 p.m. update:
Candidate Janet Protesiewicz arrives at her watch party in Milwaukee
- TMJ4's Mariam Mackar
