Decisive Elections Happening in Wisconsin and Georgia
People in Wisconsin and northwestern Georgia are casting their votes in two crucial elections that will give us a glimpse into the political landscape leading up to the upcoming midterms.
Wisconsin's Supreme Court Rumble
In Wisconsin, the left-wing faction is striving to expand their majority in the state's Supreme Court and continue their recent successes. On the other hand, in Georgia's 14th Congressional District, the right-wing group is expected to retain their stronghold, while the left-wing aims to at least make it a competitive battle.
The competition is between Chris Taylor, supported by the Democrats, and Maria Lazar, backed by the Republicans. They are both vying to replace the conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley, who is retiring soon. Compared to the previous Supreme Court race in Wisconsin, this election hasn't made much of a splash nationally, though it still holds considerable importance.
Throughout the campaign, Taylor has been ahead financially and in terms of advertisement expenditure. However, a survey from a law school last month revealed that Taylor was leading Lazar, despite many voters remaining undecided. Despite this, the Democrats in the state are hopeful considering the liberal candidate has won the last three Supreme Court races with a substantial lead.
The Candidates and Their Campaigns
Taylor, a former appeals court judge and a former Democratic state legislator, is focusing her campaign on reproductive rights and economic issues such as rising costs and cuts to food assistance programs. If Taylor wins, it would increase the liberal majority on the nonpartisan court to 5-2, which would keep the conservatives from gaining a majority for many years.
On the other hand, Lazar, also a former appeals court judge and a previous employee of a Republican Governor's administration, is defending her anti-abortion stance and contrasting her judicial career with her opponent's history as a Democratic lawmaker.
Democrats are attempting to leverage the anti-Trump sentiment in this non-presidential election. The last survey revealed that 56% of registered voters in Wisconsin disapproved of Trump's performance during his presidency, the highest recorded disapproval rate during his two terms in office.
Looking Ahead
Democrats are hopeful that another victory in the state Supreme Court will give them a boost going into the gubernatorial race this fall. A number of Democratic candidates are vying to replace the retiring Governor and take on the GOP front-runner in November.
The Georgia Congressional District Race
Meanwhile, in Georgia's 14th Congressional District, Republican Clay Fuller and Democrat Shawn Harris are advancing to a special runoff election after no candidate managed to secure a majority in the all-party primary.
While Harris managed to secure slightly more votes in the first round, the total Republican vote was split among a whopping 17 candidates. These Republicans collectively secured about 60% of the vote in the March election, making Fuller the favorite candidate.
Harris, a retired Army brigadier general, and cattle rancher, raised a substantial amount this election cycle and has been criticizing politicians from both parties who he believes "don't understand how difficult things are for hardworking Georgians".
On the other hand, Fuller has been positioning himself as the ideal candidate for those who fully support the former president, showcasing his endorsement and even making appearances with him at a district event.
The victor of this runoff will fill the seat until January 2027. Both Harris and Fuller have filed paperwork to run in the regular primary and general elections in May and November.