MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly announced Tuesday that he will run for a full term next year, giving conservatives a chance to preserve a 5-2 majority on the state’s highest court in an election liberals are targeting to pick up a seat. Kelly was appointed in 2016 by Republican Gov. Scott Walker. Marquette University Law School professor Ed Fallone and Dane County Circuit Judge Jill Karofsky have also announced they are running. Both of them would offer liberal alternatives to Kelly. While the majority isn’t at stake, Kelly said at a news conference in the Supreme Court chamber that the race is about what direction the court will take. He was joined by Justice Rebecca Bradley, Justice-elect Brian Hagedorn and retired Justice David Prosser, all conservatives. Kelly said he shared Hagedorn’s judicial philosophy and that his win in this year’s race excited people across the state in a “tremendous way.” “I’ve been energized by their excitement and I’m grateful for their support,” Kelly said of Hagedorn supporters. “And they’ve told me they want to keep this momentum going. They’re excited about what they were able to do to Brian Hagedorn and they want to be able to do the same thing for me.” The primary is Feb. 18 and the general election is April 7, the same date as the presidential primary in Wisconsin. Democratic turnout is expected to be high in that election, bolstering the hopes of liberals who hope to oust Kelly and narrow the conservative majority on the court.
