Will we see you there?

The DLCC’s virtual Down Ballot Defenders Summit is this Thursday at 5:30 PM ET / 2:30 PM PT. Learn more and RSVP here:

DLCC Priority: State Supreme Courts

Share

2025 was a pivotal year for state supreme court races, marked by a significant liberal victory in Wisconsin and three majority-deciding elections in Pennsylvania.

State supreme court races often have serious implications for the DLCC’s work because they rule on challenges to state legislative maps, claims of gerrymandering, and a host of policies that state legislatures decide, from abortion bans to workers’ rights. That’s why state supreme court races in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania were an important part of our target map in 2025.

Liberal Victory in Wisconsin

All eyes were on Wisconsin on April 1st as voters weighed in on the first real statewide test of the Trump 2.0 era. Judge Crawford’s victory in this race has major implications for Democrats’ ability to compete on fair district maps.

a shoulder up portrait of Wisconsin Supreme Court Candidate, Judge Susan Crawford. She is in front of a background of blurred foliage and the entire image has a blue overlay.

Liberal-Aligned

Judge Susan Crawford

Democratic Retentions in Pennsylvania

This November’s state Supreme Court elections showed that Pennsylvania voters don’t want a MAGA takeover, an important proof point as we prepare for highly competitive midterm elections, where the DLCC is fighting to protect our slim one-seat majority in the state House.

Shoulder-up portraits of Pennsylvania Supreme Court candidates, Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht. The candidates are in front of a blue background and the entire image has a blue overlay.

Democratic Victories

Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht

See the DLCC’s Full 2026 Target Map