Voters in Wisconsin and northwest Georgia are casting ballots on Tuesday in two closely watched elections that could redefine the political landscape ahead of the 2024 midterm elections. In Wisconsin, a race for the state Supreme Court will determine whether liberals solidify a lasting majority on the bench, while in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, a Republican runoff could preserve former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s seat—and her influence in Congress. The outcomes of these contests may offer early clues about voter sentiment before November, with abortion rights, judicial independence, and economic frustrations dominating the debate.
Why Wisconsin’s Supreme Court Race Could Reshape the State for Years
The Wisconsin Supreme Court race between Democratic-backed Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor and Republican-backed Appeals Court Judge Maria Lazar is more than a judicial contest—it’s a battle over the ideological direction of the state’s highest court. With the retirement of conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley, Tuesday’s election could expand the liberal majority to 5-2, a shift that would insulate progressive policies from conservative challenges for the foreseeable future. The stakes are particularly high given Wisconsin’s role as a perennial battleground state, where recent judicial races have broken fundraising records and drawn national attention.
A Campaign Centered on Abortion Rights and Judicial Philosophy
Chris Taylor, a former Democratic state legislator and policy director for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, has framed her campaign around reproductive rights, rising costs, and cuts to food assistance programs. Her opponent, Maria Lazar, a former aide to Republican Gov. Scott Walker, has emphasized her judicial independence and conservative values, including her opposition to abortion. The race has become a microcosm of broader national debates, with Taylor positioning herself as a defender of democracy and Lazar arguing for an impartial judiciary.
“I don’t think it’s ever been more important in my lifetime to have a strong court that’s going to stand up for our rights and freedoms, stand up for our democracy, our elections, and make sure that we are resisting this overreach we’re seeing from the federal government.”
Fundraising Advantage and Celebrity Endorsements Fuel Democratic Hopes
Taylor has maintained a significant fundraising edge over Lazar, outraising her opponent $8.2 million to $1.9 million as of late March, according to state records. The disparity is partly due to Taylor’s support from national Democratic groups and high-profile endorsements, including former President Barack Obama and former Attorney General Eric Holder, who campaigned for her last week. Holder, a key figure in the Democratic Party’s legal strategy, has framed the race as a referendum on conservative judicial activism.
A Marquette University Law School poll conducted in late March found Taylor leading Lazar 43% to 35% among likely voters, but with 16% undecided. The poll also revealed that 56% of registered Wisconsin voters disapproved of former President Donald Trump’s job performance—the highest disapproval rating recorded during his two terms in office. Democrats are hoping this sentiment, combined with early voting data showing strong Democratic turnout, will propel Taylor to victory.
Historical Context: Wisconsin’s Judicial Battles and the Road to November
Wisconsin’s Supreme Court races have become increasingly politicized, culminating in the 2023 election for a 10-year term, which became the most expensive state judicial race in U.S. history after tech billionaire Elon Musk, a Trump ally at the time, poured millions into the conservative candidate’s campaign. That race ended with a 54% victory for the liberal-backed Janet Protasiewicz, flipping the court’s majority from conservative to liberal for the first time in 15 years. Since then, Democrats have won 18 of the last 23 statewide races in Wisconsin, though Trump narrowly carried the state in both 2016 and 2024.
A Taylor victory would extend the liberal majority’s control and could influence future decisions on issues like abortion, redistricting, and voting rights. The court is also expected to weigh in on challenges to Republican-backed laws, including a ban on gender-affirming care for minors. Meanwhile, the race is serving as a dry run for the gubernatorial election in November, where a crowded Democratic field is vying to succeed Gov. Tony Evers, who is term-limited.
Georgia’s Marjorie Taylor Greene Runoff: A Test of GOP Unity and Voter Sentiment
In Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, a deep-red conservative stronghold, Republican prosecutor Clay Fuller faces Democrat Shawn Harris in a Tuesday runoff to fill the seat previously held by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who resigned in January after a public feud with former President Donald Trump over the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The district, which Trump carried by 37 percentage points in the 2024 presidential race, has historically been a Republican stronghold, but the runoff will test whether the party can maintain its dominance amid internal divisions.
Republicans Hold the Edge, But Harris Pushes for a Competitive Race
Fuller enters the runoff as the favorite after Republicans split the vote among 17 candidates in the March all-party primary, with Fuller and Harris advancing to the runoff. Fuller, who has touted his support for Trump and his endorsement from the former president, has positioned himself as the most loyal conservative in the race. Harris, a retired Army brigadier general and cattle rancher, has focused on economic issues, accusing both parties of being "out of touch" with working-class Georgians. Harris raised $6.4 million this cycle, outpacing Fuller’s $3.1 million in fundraising.
Greene’s Resignation and the Future of the District
Greene’s resignation followed her break with Trump over his handling of the Epstein files, a rare public split with the former president. The winner of Tuesday’s runoff will serve the remainder of Greene’s term, which ends in January 2027, but both Fuller and Harris have already filed paperwork to run in the regular primary and general elections in May and November. The seat’s security as a Republican stronghold has drawn national attention, with Greene herself remaining a polarizing figure in Congress, known for her controversial statements and hardline conservative positions.
Key Takeaways: What These Races Could Mean for the Midterms
- A Democratic victory in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race would solidify a liberal majority for years, potentially influencing policies on abortion, voting rights, and economic regulations ahead of the 2024 elections.
- The Georgia runoff for Marjorie Taylor Greene’s seat is a bellwether for Republican unity and voter sentiment in deep-red districts, with implications for the party’s messaging in November.
- Both races reflect broader national trends, including Democratic efforts to capitalize on abortion rights and economic frustrations, and Republican attempts to maintain control in conservative strongholds.
- High-profile endorsements, including those from former presidents and national figures, underscore the importance of these down-ballot races in shaping the political narrative before the fall.
The Broader Implications: How Down-Ballot Races Shape National Politics
While the 2024 presidential race dominates headlines, down-ballot contests like Wisconsin’s Supreme Court and Georgia’s 14th District runoff often provide the clearest signals about voter priorities. In Wisconsin, the Supreme Court race is a proxy for the state’s ideological divide, with abortion rights serving as a key mobilizing issue for Democrats. The Georgia runoff, meanwhile, offers a test of whether Republicans can sustain their dominance in Trump-aligned districts despite internal strife. These races also highlight the increasing nationalization of state and local contests, with outside money and endorsements playing outsized roles.
Polls Close at 9 p.m. ET in Wisconsin and 7 p.m. ET in Georgia
Voters in Wisconsin will cast their ballots until 9 p.m. Eastern Time, while polls in Georgia’s 14th District close at 7 p.m. ET. Early voting data suggests strong Democratic turnout in Wisconsin, but the races remain too close to call. In Georgia, Republicans are favored to hold the seat, but Harris’s fundraising and messaging could narrow the gap. The results will be closely watched for signs of shifting political winds before the November midterms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who are the main candidates in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race?
- The candidates are Chris Taylor, a Democratic-backed appeals court judge and former state legislator, and Maria Lazar, a Republican-backed appeals court judge who worked in former Gov. Scott Walker’s administration.
- Why is the Wisconsin Supreme Court race so important?
- A Taylor victory would expand the liberal majority on the court to 5-2, potentially shaping policies on abortion, voting rights, and economic regulations for years. The court has become a battleground for ideological disputes in the state.
- What is at stake in Georgia’s Marjorie Taylor Greene runoff?
- The runoff will determine who fills Greene’s seat for the remainder of her term, ending in 2027. Both candidates have also filed to run in the regular primary and general elections in May and November.
