Sources tell The Heartland Post that Appeals Court judge Pedro Colon is preparing to jump into next year’s Supreme Court race.
Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge Pedro Colón is preparing to enter the 2027 state Supreme Court race, according to a source familiar with his plans, setting up a potential clash between two left-leaning jurists and potentially expanding the court’s liberal majority to 6-1.
Colón, a former Democratic state lawmaker, would join Clark County Circuit Judge Lyndsey Brunette, who announced her candidacy last week. Both candidates are widely viewed as aligned with the court’s liberal wing, which secured a 5-2 advantage after Appeals Judge Chris Taylor’s recent landslide victory earlier this month in the race to replace retiring conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley.
The seat up in 2027 is currently held by conservative Justice Annette Ziegler, who is not seeking re-election. A win by either Colón or Brunette would mark the latest step in liberals’ recent dominance of Wisconsin’s high court, where they have flipped control through a series of high-spending, ideologically charged spring elections.
Colón, the first Latino elected to the Wisconsin Legislature, served six terms in the state Assembly from 1999 to 2010, representing a Milwaukee district. As a Democrat, he served on the Joint Committee on Finance and was repeatedly endorsed by party leaders as embodying “the values of our party.” He was appointed to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in 2010 by then-Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat, won re-election three times. In 2023, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers appointed him to the Court of Appeals, making him the first Latino to serve on that court.
During his legislative career and judicial campaigns, Colón was praised by Democratic allies for his progressive record. Milwaukee County Democrats endorsed his 2023 appeals court bid, citing his “proven progressive values.” Critics have pointed to that background, and to recent instances in which the Supreme Court overturned his appellate opinions, as evidence that he would bring a predictably leftist philosophy to the high court.
Social media reaction was mixed, with some expressing skepticism about another Dane County or Milwaukee-area judge joining the court. Others referenced Colón’s background as a Democratic legislator and questioned his ability to set aside his political history.
Brunette, a circuit judge from more rural Clark County, which voted overwhelmingly for Trump in 2024, has positioned herself as a fresh face for the liberal side, though both candidates are expected to draw heavy support from Democratic-aligned groups and unions that have bankrolled recent court races.
No major conservative candidates have emerged yet for the 2027 contest. Appeals Judge Shelley Grogan has already said she will not run.
The development comes as the Wisconsin Supreme Court continues to play a pivotal role in hot-button issues, including redistricting, abortion, and election rules. Liberals’ strengthened majority has already shifted the court’s direction on several key cases, drawing praise from Democrats and sharp criticism from Republicans who argue the bench has become overly activist.
With filing deadlines still months away, the race is in its early stages, but the entry of two left-leaning judges signals Democrats’ determination to lock in their newfound control of the court for years to come.
