The fight to make the Wisconsin Supreme Court even bluer begins now.

In 2023, we turned the Wisconsin Court blue for the first time in 15 years and have kept it that way ever since.

The result?

Fairer voting.

In 2023, the liberal majority threw out the Republican-drawn state legislative maps. The vote was 4-3.

In July 2024, the vote was again 4-3 to restore ballot drop boxes.

Greater reproductive choice for the women of Wisconsin.

In July 2025, the Court ruled 4-3 to stop enforcement of an 1849 abortion ban.

Now there is the chance for an even larger and sustainable plurality on the Court.

A conservative judge has resigned.

Chris Taylor is running.👇

The Cap Times Editorial - Taylor is uniquely qualified to serve on the Supreme Court

Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge Chris Taylor is so well qualified for the open seat on the state Supreme Court that her critics are grasping at straws.

Desperate supporters of her rival in the spring election, Judge Maria Lazar, are even suggesting that Taylor’s nine years of experience as a state legislator should be counted against her.

That’s nonsense.

Taylor’s extensive judicial experience as a Dane County Circuit Court judge and as a highly regarded member of the District IV Court of Appeals bench, provides a compelling case for her election. But so, too, does her legislative record. Indeed, Taylor’s terms in the state Assembly, where she served from 2011 to 2020, distinguish her as a rare figure in these divided times: a bipartisan problem-solver who can see across lines of partisanship and ideology to get things done.

Though she was elected as a Democrat from a progressive district in Dane County, Taylor worked with some of the most conservative Republicans in the Capitol to pass meaningful legislation. That experience has served Taylor well as a jurist on some of the busiest court benches in Wisconsin. And it will be even more useful if voters elect Taylor to the Supreme Court on April 7.

Taylor provides a refreshing alternative to Lazar, a predictable partisan with a long and troublesome history as a defender of defeated former Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s assaults on workers' rights and of GOP gerrymandering schemes. Voters, who tired of the former governor and his power-grabbing associates long ago, have repeatedly signaled that they want a Supreme Court that is characterized by independence and integrity rather than right-wing judicial activism. So of course Walker, as a vociferous champion of Lazar’s bid, has been trying to muddy the waters by mounting last-chance attacks on Taylor.

As part of the strategy, he’s been griping about Taylor’s legislative record and dismissing her as “a radical politician from Madison.” That’s predictable election-season bombast from Walker. But it’s not grounded in reality.

The truth is that Taylor brings to the court race a track record of seeking, and achieving, bipartisan consensus on complex criminal justice issues. More than a decade ago, when she was serving her first full term as a member of a bitterly divided state Assembly, Taylor joined with state Rep. Garey Bies, a Sister Bay Republican who served with distinction on the Committee on Corrections and Courts, to draft legislation that changed the way police-involved shootings are investigated.

Before Taylor, a lawyer, and Bies, a former chief deputy sheriff, came up with their 2013 plan to address the issue, police departments investigated officer-involved shootings themselves. That created potential conflicts of interest and other complications, which fostered mistrust.

Conscious of these concerns, Taylor and Bies came up with legislation that required outside independent investigations of such shootings. The bill that Democrat Taylor and Republican Bies drafted — which also required that information from these investigations be released to the public and that family members of victims be informed about legal options — became law in 2014.

That was long before most states took up meaningful criminal justice reform. Yet Taylor and Bies got their bill approved with overwhelming bipartisan majorities in both chambers of a Republican-controlled Legislature. And they got Scott Walker to sign it.

Taylor’s legislative record forms just one portion of the remarkable resume that she brings to the race to fill the state Supreme Court seat that is being vacated by Justice Rebecca Bradley, a bumbling right-wing judicial activist who was repeatedly appointed to judicial posts by Walker.

Taylor’s wide-ranging experience means that she is far better suited than Bradley — or Lazar — to serve on a court that will benefit from Taylor’s legal knowledge, congeniality and deep respect for the state and federal constitutions.

In addition to her many years as a practicing attorney, legislator and jurist, Taylor worked as policy director for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, where, as her campaign notes, “she defended constitutional rights and advocated for health care access for all and for each individual to make their own personal, private health care decisions.”

This range of experience informs Taylor’s current bid for a place on the high court.

“As an attorney, public servant, and now as a judge, I’ve always been committed to making sure everyone is able to access our justice system,” she explains. “Justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court must be fair, independent, and impartial. Everyone who comes before the court deserves to be heard, respected, and treated equally — that’s exactly what I’ll do as a Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice.”

Taylor runs with our strong endorsement because we agree with the assessments of the many distinguished Wisconsin jurists who are backing this outstanding candidate. As Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Dallet says: “Judge Taylor knows and understands Wisconsin. She has always made sure her courtroom is a place where everyone in Wisconsin can receive a fair hearing, and have their constitutional rights and freedoms protected. Chris Taylor is exactly the type of judge we need on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and I’m proud to support her in this race.”

That’s a sentiment echoed by more than 160 current and former Wisconsin jurists, from Supreme Court justices to members of the Appeals Court bench to county and municipal judges — all of whom have endorsed Taylor. They know how to cut through the noise created by Walker and the tiresome drivel that is spewed out by the right-wing attack machine.

Voters can do the same on April 7 when they elect Chris Taylor to a 10-year term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Here is the [link](Chris Taylor — Donate via ActBlue https://secure.actblue.com/donate/christaylorforjustice) if you want to support Chris Taylor and strengthen the blue Wisconsin court.

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Can the Democratic Minority in the Senate save voting rights for America?

Call your Senators! Tell the Democrats to stay on the Senate floor day and night. Tell the Republicans not to vote for the SAVE Act.

Trump wants the SAVE America Act passed. It would disenfranchise millions of voters. John Thune, GOP Leader, knows he doesn’t have the votes. This is what is happening now.

Republicans plan marathon debate for SAVE America Act

Senate Republicans are planning for days of marathon sessions as they try to put Democrats on defense over their controversial elections bill backed by President Donald Trump.

The strategy, described by two aides granted anonymity to comment on private deliberations, is emerging after GOP leaders signaled they will bring the SAVE America Act to the Senate floor next week.

But it will fall short of the “talking filibuster” that some hard-line conservatives want to force. That’s because leaders are still expected to move to curtail debate at some point by invoking existing Senate rules and setting up a vote at 60-vote margin — meaning it will fail given the opposition from Democrats and even some Republican senators.

Even so, GOP senators are preparing for a lengthy debate that is expected to stretch at least past the end of next week. The strategy could include scheduling overnight sessions and forcing Democrats to stay on the floor to prevent any Republican from calling a final vote on the bill.

Republicans are also preparing amendments that would reflect Trump’s expanded vision for the legislation to include banning transgender women from participating in women’s sports and prohibiting gender-affirming surgery for children.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Wednesday that Republicans are also talking through how to address Trump’s broad opposition to mail voting.

Many Republicans represent states that have long offered no-excuse mail voting, something Trump has railed against in recent statements.

“I understand his passion,” Thune said, suggesting Republicans would focus on “ballot harvesting” instead. “We’re working through what that actual proposal might look like and to address what I think is the real problem.” (Politico)

One more thing. Or two.

Can the incumbent Senator of Texas, recently forced into a runoff primary, get Trump’s endorsement?

Clearly, Cornyn is desperate.

Sen. John Cornyn flips on the filibuster to pass SAVE America Act as Trump weighs endorsement.

Cornyn, who spent years defending the filibuster, is locked in a competitive GOP runoff in Texas against Ken Paxton, who has aligned with Trump on the issue.

WASHINGTON — Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, reversed himself on the Senate filibuster Wednesday after years of unflinching support for the 60-vote threshold to pass most bills.

Now, locked in a competitive Republican runoff for his Senate seat and eyeing President Donald Trump's endorsement, Cornyn says he'll support "whatever changes to Senate rules that may prove necessary" to pass the SAVE America Act, a sweeping election overhaul bill that Trump has called his No. 1 priority.

Cornyn's comments are part of an op-ed he wrote in the New York Post published Wednesday, titled: "Why the SAVE Act matters more than the filibuster."

The legislation would impose proof-of-citizenship requirements to register to vote, require photo ID to cast a ballot in person or by mail, and require states to run voter rolls through a federal database kept by the Department of Homeland Security.

Cornyn supports the bill, but his GOP runoff opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, has aligned with Trump in calling for abolition of the filibuster to pass it and criticized Cornyn for refusing to take the same stance.

NBC News reported Tuesday that Trump had seemed ready to endorse Cornyn in the race just one week ago, but that the president's decision is now in "a holding pattern" as Trump emphasizes that Congress must do everything in its power to pass the SAVE America Act.

Cornyn denied Wednesday that he shifted his position on the filibuster to win Trump's endorsement, telling NBC News: "I would say that's not true."

Cornyn later told reporters of his reversal, "Hopefully the president likes what he sees, but this has really been sort of an evolution in my own thinking."

The legislation has passed the House but faces a tough path to 60 votes in the Senate, where Democrats have promised to filibuster it. Noncitizen voting is already illegal and very rare, and Trump has now asked Congress to add other provisions to the bill that would ban transgender people from women's and girls' sports.

"After careful consideration, I support whatever changes to Senate rules that may prove necessary for us to get the SAVE America Act and homeland security funding past the Democrats’ obstruction, through the Senate, and on the president’s desk for his signature," Cornyn wrote in his op-ed.

"This could be a 'talking filibuster' that removes the obstructionists’ free pass and makes them defend their indefensible views on the Senate floor, or it could be a different reform," Cornyn added.

But when Democrats floated changes to the filibuster in the past, Cornyn strenuously defended the 60-vote threshold, like in early 2022 when Democrats sought to pierce the filibuster to pass their own election overhaul bill, called the Freedom to Vote Act.

"Power is fleeting, and at some point the shoe will always be on the other foot," Cornyn said at the time, in January 2022. "Liberal activists may like the idea of nuking the filibuster today, but they'll soon find themselves ruing the day their party broke the Senate."

He said in another speech that same month, “Not only are our colleagues trying to seize the authority given under the Constitution to the states to manage their own elections, they’re willing to take a wrecking ball to the United States Senate itself and, particularly, the Senate rules.”

And he defended it on Fox News in 2022. “That’s what the filibuster does. It requires us to work together,” Cornyn said.

Cornyn addressed his past defense of the filibuster in Wednesday's op-ed.

"I spent years defending the filibuster because the 60-vote threshold was a net benefit to Texas and our nation," he wrote. "Before moderate Democrats went extinct, the rules worked. ... The Democrats’ recklessness and radicalism have changed the landscape."

Asked Wednesday specifically about his past statement that changing the filibuster would "take a wrecking ball" to Senate rules, Cornyn replied: "I said I’d be open to reforms."

When asked follow-up questions, Cornyn put his hand in front of NBC News' camera and said, "Go away."

After a Republican lunch meeting, Cornyn said it remains to be seen whether there will be votes on amendments to the current SAVE America Act to add new provisions that Trump wants.

"I don’t know," he said.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., meanwhile, has repeatedly said that there are not enough votes in the Senate to undo the filibuster or pass the bill.

"Sen. Cornyn is one of 53 Republican senators, and the opposition to nuking the filibuster runs very, very deep in our conference, I think, as you know," he said Wednesday.

Thune told reporters that he will bring the SAVE America Act to the floor but that Democrats will vote it down. "I can guarantee the debate. I can guarantee a vote," he said a day earlier. "I just can’t guarantee an outcome." (NBC News)

Again, call your Senators! Tell the Democrats to stay on the Senate floor day and night. Tell the Republicans not to vote for the SAVE Act.

Cornyn’s Grovel knows no limits.

1. Cornyn’s Op-Ed in the New York Post on Thursday.

Sen. Cornyn: Why the SAVE Act matters more than the filibuster.

Another Republican Senator took a different position.

The Fascistic Governor of Florida is trying a mini-Save Act. He will face opposition.

A Democratic Senator gave Cornyn a lesson in voting.

The fight between Thomas Massie, Congressman from Kentucky, and Trump.

It started in June when Massie, Libertarian Representative from Kentucky, didn’t support Trump’s tax bill. It escalated when Massie called for transparency on the Epstein files.

Most recently, Massie opposed Trump military interventions without congressional approval, and specifically condemned Trump’s strikes on Iran as illegal.

As ever, Trump, always crude, always rude, attacked Massie and MAGA is giving $5 million to his opponent. This is how a Fascist behaves. No Dissent allowed.
Attack! Attack! Attack!

Rand Paul, Republican Senator from Kentucky, has made it clear - Massie has friends.

On Wednesday, the Upper Westside of Manhattan celebrated one of its own.

The celebration took place at the Ethical Culture Center.

Watch the well-earned love fest for one of New York’s greatest women.

News 1 video - Ronnie Eldridge honored as an icon of New York politics.

The New York Times obituary of Ronnie Eldridge.