Taylor’s swift backing comes just 24 hours after Colón launched his campaign for the open seat being vacated by retiring conservative Justice Annette Ziegler
Incoming Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Chris Taylor wasted no time wading into the next battle for the state’s highest court, endorsing Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge Pedro Colón on Wednesday, one day after Colón announced his candidacy for the 2027 election.
“Pedro Colon is exactly the kind of justice Wisconsin needs on its Supreme Court,” Taylor posted on social media Wednesday afternoon.
Taylor, who recently won a 20-point victory for a liberal seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, will join the bench in August, solidifying a 5-2 liberal majority. Her endorsement indicates strong progressive support for Colón in the race to succeed Justice Annette Ziegler, whose term ends in 2027. If elected, Colón would increase the liberal majority to 6-1.
Colón is a former Democratic state lawmaker from Milwaukee and the first Latino judge on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. Taylor’s rapid endorsement drew suspicion from some, suggesting it was exchanged for Colón not running in 2026, as Colón only officially launched his campaign on Tuesday. He joins Clark County Circuit Judge Lyndsey Brunette as the second major liberal-backed candidate.
A longtime fixture in Milwaukee legal and political circles, Colón served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1999 to 2010 before becoming a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge. In 2023, Governor Tony Evers appointed him to the Court of Appeals.
The 2027 contest is already shaping up as a critical test of whether the liberal majority that flipped the court in recent years can expand its dominance. Conservatives currently hold two seats, but Ziegler’s retirement opens the door for liberals to push for near-total control of the seven-member court. Much to the complaints of grassroots conservatives, poor candidate quality, badly managed campaigns, and lack of effort from the State GOP have cost the conservatives nearly every seat on the Supreme Court.
Taylor’s rapid endorsement drew suspicion from some, suggesting this endorsement was exchanged for Colón not running in 2026.
