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 County results Bradley: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Crooks: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||
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The1995 Wisconsin Supreme Court election was held on April 4, 1995 to elect a justice to theWisconsin Supreme Court for a ten-year term. The Incumbent justice, Chief JusticeNathan Heffernan, retired after nearly 31 years on the court. Although the Wisconsin Supreme Court justices are considered nonpartisan, Heffernan was identified as a liberal and voted with other liberals on the court.[1]Wisconsin circuit court judgeAnn Walsh Bradley defeated fellow circuit court judgeN. Patrick Crooks.
Bradley, a liberal with bipartisan support, attempted to maintain a level of political independence in her campaign. She criticized Crooks' campaign for emphasizing his endorsements from Republican governorTommy Thompson and members of his administration.[3] In response, Bradley touted her own set of bipartisan support and endorsements, which included former Democratic governorTony Earl and Sue Ann Thompson – Tommy Thompson's wife. In addition, Bradley criticized attempts to polarize the race along party lines, arguing that the most qualified person should be the one to get the nomination.[3]
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Walsh Bradley | 131,889 | 38.85% | |
| N. Patrick Crooks | 88,913 | 26.19% | |
| Ted E. Wedemeyer Jr. | 64,668 | 19.05% | |
| Patience D. Roggensack | 41,303 | 12.16% | |
| William A. Pangman | 12,753 | 3.76% | |
| Total votes | 339,526 | 100.0% | |
After advancing to the general election, Bradley reiterated her desire to see the race politicized by her opponents.[5] During the campaign, Bradley was identified as a liberal and had gained the endorsements of several liberal judges in the state. During the campaign, Crooks identified himself as a conservative, and was aligned with Republicans, who worked on his campaign.[5]
| Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Walsh Bradley | 514,588 | 54.82% | N/A | |
| N. Patrick Crooks | 424,110 | 45.18% | N/A | |
| Majority | 90,478 | 9.64% | ||
| Total votes | 938,698 | 100.0% | ||
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