2026 Spring Judicial Elections: Who’s on the ballot in Wisconsin?

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With the February 17 primary election complete, attention now turns to the spring election, where ballots are now set across Wisconsin for the April 7 spring election. Voters will head to the polls to elect judges at multiple levels of the judiciary. The 2026 cycle includes a Wisconsin Supreme Court race, several Wisconsin Court of Appeals seats, and numerous circuit court contests throughout the state.

Wisconsin Supreme Court

Justice Rebecca G. Bradley is not seeking re-election, creating an open seat on the state’s highest court. Two candidates will appear on the April ballot to succeed her. Chris Taylor is a Wisconsin Court of Appeals judge and former member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. Maria S. Lazar is also a Wisconsin Court of Appeals judge and previously served as a circuit court judge.

Wisconsin Court of Appeals

Three Court of Appeals seats are on the spring ballot.

  • District I: Judge Joe Donald is running for re-election unopposed.
  • District II: Judge Lisa S. Neubauer filed a notification of noncandidacy. Anthony LoCoco is the lone registered candidate for the open seat.
  • District IV: Judge Rachel A. Graham is running for re-election unopposed.

Circuit Court races

Voters in several counties will select judges for circuit court branches. Below is a comprehensive list of judicial races across the state:

Barron County

  • Branch 3: Judge Maureen D. Boyle (unopposed)

Brown County

  • Branch 8: Judge Beau Gerard Liegeois (unopposed)

Chippewa County

  • Branch 3: Judge Benjamin J. Lane (unopposed)

Dane County

  • Branch 1: Huma Ahsan, and Judge Ben Jones
  • Branch 8: Judge Stephanie Hilton (unopposed)

Dodge County

  • Branch 1: Shawn Woller (unopposed; replacing Judge Brian A. Pfitzinger, who filed a notification of noncandidacy)
  • Branch 4: Judge Kristine A. Snow (unopposed)

Dunn County

  • Branch 1: Judge James M. Peterson (unopposed)

Florence and Forest Counties

  • Circuit Judge: Robert A. Kennedy Jr. and Alex Seifert (open seat; replacing Judge Leon D. Stenz, who filed a notification of noncandidacy)

Iron County

  • Circuit Judge: Judge Anthony J. Stella Jr. (unopposed)

Juneau County

  • Branch 2: Judge Paul S. Curran (unopposed)

Marathon County

  • Branch 3: Michael D. Hughes and Douglas Bauman (open seat; replacing Judge LaMont K. Jacobson, who filed a notification of noncandidacy)

Milwaukee County

  • Branch 2: Judge Milton L. Childs (unopposed)
  • Branch 7: Susan M. Roth (unopposed; replacing Judge Thomas J. McAdams, who filed a notification of noncandidacy)
  • Branch 16: Judge Brittany C. Grayson (unopposed)
  • Branch 27: Judge Kevin E. Martens (unopposed)
  • Branch 29: Judge Rebecca Kiefer (unopposed)
  • Branch 32: Judge Laura Gramling Perez (unopposed)

Outagamie County

  • Branch 2: Judge Emily Lonergan (unopposed)
  • Branch 3: Kyle J. Sargent (unopposed; replacing Judge Mitchell J. Metropulos, who filed a notification of noncandidacy)

Saint Croix County

  • Branch 1: Judge Scott J. Nordstrand (unopposed)

Washburn County

  • Circuit Judge: Judge Angeline E. Winton-Roe and Aaron B. Marcoux

Washington County

  • Branch 2: Judge Gordon Leech and Grant Scaife

Waukesha County

  • Branch 5: Judge Jack Melvin (unopposed)

Waupaca County

  • Branch 2: Judge Vicki L. Clussman (unopposed)

Wood County

  • Branch 3: Elizabeth Gebert and Judge Emily Nolan-Plutchak

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Third Branch eNews is an online monthly newsletter of the Director of State Courts Office. If you are interested in contributing an article about your department’s programs or accomplishments, contact your department head. Information about judicial retirements and judicial obituaries may be submitted to: Sara.Foster@wicourts.gov