Rebecca Bradley, JoAnne Kloppenburg advance in high court race

The statewide primary featured Bradley, JoAnne Kloppenburg, and Joe Donald.

Kloppenburg, who ran unsuccessfully for the Supreme Court in 2011 against Justice David Prosser, has drawn backing from liberal groups.

All eight counties had several things in common: turnout was up yesterday compared to 2013, the previous three-way primary for the Supreme Court; Bradley underperformed Justice Pat Roggensack’s percentages three years ago, even in deep-red areas; and Kloppenburg easily outpaced Ed Fallone.

Bradley moved on Tuesday after a campaign that has been marked by partisanship.

“I believe it so important on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, who will say what the law is and not what we may wish it to be”, she said. The three are vying for a 10-year term, with only two to advance to the April 5 election.

In Dane County, Kloppenburg received 73 percent of the vote to Bradley’s 19.3 percent. “I think people expect judges and justices to hold themselves to a higher standard in campaigning, and otherwise, and I’m very committed to continuing to run a positive campaign”.

Bradley’s strong showing in Tuesday’s primary was buoyed with six figures’ worth of radio and television advertisements purchased by the Wisconsin Alliance for Reform on her behalf. Kloppenburg won election to the Madison-based District 4 Court of Appeals in 2012. Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge Joe Donald placed a distant third.

Political observers point to the campaigns of Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Bernie Sanders as proof that voters want to shake up the establishment.

The former private practice attorney has had a rapid ascent she was appointed to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court late in 2012. They have high hopes for a court that will work for all of them and not the special interests and the partisan politics.

Kloppenburg likes to highlight these connections, as in her speech Tuesday, where she framed the election as being about the future of the court and state.

That ad used footage that Bradley’s campaign shot and posted online, prompting Bradley’s opponents to question whether she had worked directly with the group.

Lawrence University professor Arnold Shober says Bradley is aligned with Governor Walker.