(The Center Square) – Judge Lyndsey Brunette began her campaign Thursday for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, becoming the first judge to enter the race to replace Annette Ziegler, who has announced that she will not run for reelection in 2027.
Ziegler will be one of two conservative justices on the court until her term ends. Brunette has been a circuit court judge in Clark County since 2018.
She previously ran as a Democrat and won the race to become Clark County District Attorney in 2012, the first woman to hold the position. She began her legal career at the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office in Minneapolis under then County Attorney Amy Klobuchar.
“Before I became a judge, I served as a district attorney, prosecuting cases in this very courthouse and fighting for victims of domestic abuse and assault,” Brunette said in her campaign announcement. “I worked hard to protect families and keep communities safe.
“Today, on the bench, I make sure the law is applied fairly and equally. Because in our courts, justice shouldn’t depend on who you are, your politics, or how much money you have.”
The court will have five liberal justices and two conservatives after Chris Taylor takes her seat on Aug. 1 and, if she wins the race, Brunette would have the potential to extend that liberal majority to six members with one conservative.
“I’m running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court because those principles matter now more than ever,” Brunette said. “Judges should follow the facts and the law, respect the Constitution, and protect the rights and freedoms of everyone.”
