A liberal Wisconsin judge’s win could be the most important election result of 2023

Could Tuesday’s election for one seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court determine the future of our country or even the next president of the United States? Maybe not. But liberal judge Janet Protasiewicz’s victory over conservative judge Dan Kelly may be the most important election result of 2023. 

This state Supreme Court election, in which a record $45 million was spent, flipped the balance of power on the swing state’s highest court. That, in turn, is likely to determine the future of abortion rights, election laws and voting rights — three hot-button issues in the swing state. 

Let’s begin with abortion rights. Protasiewicz’s victory could provide a road map for Democrats in the 2024 elections. Wisconsin’s 1849 law banning almost all abortions has been in effect since the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson last June, which overturned Roe v. Wade. A challenge to that 19th century law is making its way to the state’s high court. Many of the more than $10 million in ads Protasiewicz aired in the election’s final weeks highlighted her views on abortion rights. Now she will most likely be the deciding vote when the 1849 law and other abortion issues reach Wisconsin’s highest court.