There are several reasons why the April runoff election for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court is more than just a battle between Tuesday's first-place finisher Daniel Kelly - - the conservative incumbent backed by Republicans - - and runner-up Dane County District Court Judge Jill Karofsky, favored by Democrats.
Bottom line - - a Karofsky win could bode well for Democrats retaking the state from Republicans and Trump in November.
1. Kelly was appointed to fill a vacant seat by then-Governor Walker in 2016, so will carry Walker baggage through election day. Democrats and others who had their fill of Walker, his policies and ideological donors can further dismantle his legacy by turning out a justice who owes his incumbency to the defeated GOP Governor.
2. The Tuesday voting was split evenly between the conservative, GOP-aligned Kelly and the two more liberal, Democratic-aligned candidates - - Karofsky and Ed Fallone, a Marquette University Law School Professor and the primary's third-place finisher.
That said, Karofsky has a possible advantage, if she can exploit it: the April general election also includes the Democratic presidential primary ballot, which means that extremely competitive contest should balloon Democratic turnout - - and Karofsky's potential total, too.
No wonder the Walkerites tried - - unsuccessfully - - to change the election calendar.
No wonder the Walkerites tried - - unsuccessfully - - to change the election calendar.
3. All of which means Republicans and conservatives will counter with a massive fund-raising and ad buys which till back Kelly and demonize Karofsky, just like the heavy, right-wing media spending in the 2019 Supreme Court race which helped Justice Brian Hagedorn, another Scott Walker appointee, secure a close win.
4. So the April, Karofsky-Kelly contest becomes a test of both Democratic Party organizing, impact and turnout statewide, as well as GOP/conservative commitments in dollars and energy for Kelly and rescuing Walker's reputation from another hit.
Bottom line - - a Karofsky win could bode well for Democrats retaking the state from Republicans and Trump in November.
In other words, there's a great deal at stake in the outcome of this State Supreme Court contest this April.
