A conservative Wisconsin appeals court judge announced Wednesday that she will run for the open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Appeals Court Judge Maria Lazar is the first conservative candidate to enter the race after conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley announced that she will not seek reelection.

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While technically nonpartisan, the past two Wisconsin Supreme Court elections have drawn hundreds of millions of dollars in donations. Lazar criticized the high amount of partisan spending in the races.

“We must stop the politicization of our courts,” Lazar said in a campaign launch video.

She also touted herself as an “independent, impartial judge” whose rulings will “never be swayed by political decisions.”

Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor, a former Democratic state lawmaker, is also running for the seat. No other candidates have entered the race.

The 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race was the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history, out-raising the state’s 2023 Supreme Court race, which, at the time, was the most expensive judicial race.

In the state’s election this year, liberal-leaning Justice Susan Crawford beat her conservative opponent, Brad Schimel, solidifying the high court’s liberal majority until 2028.

The state’s 2026 Supreme Court race will be less high-stakes than the last two, as there is no opportunity for voters to sway the ideological leaning of the court.

If conservatives lose this seat next year, the court’s 4-3 liberal majority will grow to 5-2. Another conservative justice is up for reelection in 2027.

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Conservative candidates have suffered tough losses in the state’s recent Supreme Court elections, having lost four of the last five races by double-digit margins.

A primary in this race will be held in February, and the election will take place on April 7, 2026.