Judge Janet Protasiewicz was elected as the newest Wisconsin state Supreme Court Justice on Wednesday, April 4, an election that placed the state at hands of making a crucial swing seat.
This landslide win ends the 15 years of control that conservatives have had in the Supreme Court, which simultaneously comes with looming anti-abortion laws. Judge Protasiewicz is also expected to challenge Wisconsin’s electoral maps, which would ideally lead to the states’ boundaries being redrawn to accurately reflect the changing population. The election has also been one of the nation’s most expensive elections for a new Supreme Court Justice. Protasiewicz’s 10-year term has resulted in a liberal majority within the Supreme Court.
With 55.5% of the vote, Judge Protasiewicz celebrated her victorious change in history by strutting into the room with Lizzo’s hit single, ‘About Damn Time,’ playing on the speakers. Chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Ben Wikler, tweeted, “The moment Janet Protasiewicz walked in to declare victory — trailed by the rest of the new Wisconsin Supreme Court majority,” attaching a candid video of Protasiewicz entering the room (with Lizzo there in spirit).
The moment Janet Protasiewicz walked in to declare victory — trailed by the rest of the new Wisconsin Supreme Court majority pic.twitter.com/oyAvBo4sNT
— Ben Wikler (@benwikler) April 5, 2023
The candid video has reached 872k views and 16.8k likes, and the numbers continue to increase (probably because we can’t stop watching it). Wikler’s comment section is also filled with supporters. One user commented “Janet celebrating with music by @lizzo because this victory in Wisconsin is pure joy just like her.” Another user retweeted with “Good morning, friends! Democrats are still celebrating to Lizzo’s “About Damn Time”. Republicans are mourning to “Tears of a Clown.”
Janet celebrating with music by @lizzo because this victory in Wisconsin is pure joy just like her. https://t.co/XVZPQt0KpA
— Mary Cathryn Ricker (@mcricker) April 5, 2023
Good morning, friends! Wisconsin Democrats are still celebrating to Lizzo’s “About Damn Time”. Republicans are mourning to “Tears of a Clown”. ? https://t.co/Gw6d0jA5eT
— Kate ??⚕️ (@Kate_Retired) April 5, 2023
Wikler’s post also received a retweet from a candle company, That Gay Guy Candle Co., who commented on their own post of candles in honor of Judge Protasiewicz and her liberal Supreme Court colleagues with the caption “Women get shit done. Watch out, Wisconsin Supreme Court.” We bet these candles smell like victory.
— That Gay Guy Candle Co. (@gayguycandleco) April 5, 2023
Judge Protasiewicz liberal win has changed the history of the United States, and in the wise words of Lizzo, it’s about damn time.
Top photo: From official campaign website of Janet Protasiewicz