The question now is whether Democratic momentum in a nationalized election will change that. It was the first time a non-incumbent liberal candidate won a seat in over 20 years.
Both candidates were backed by partisans.
"I think Wisconsin voters stood up to special interests, and they're ready to have a fair and independent court", Dallet said. Lee believes Dallet's win shows the tide is turning. Walker had endorsed Screnock. Dallet stressed her work as a prosecutor, contended judicial ethics rules needed to be strengthened to fix a "broken" court and said she was running because people's rights were "under attack".
"Republicans are perhaps a little complacent after some of the wins that they have had", he said.
Dallet, who has served as a judge for the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in Wisconsin, was first elected to the position in the year 2008.
But Republicans, including Walker, said it was another wake-up call for their party ahead of November's election, when Walker and Democratic U.S. Sen. She drew support from former officials from Barack Obama's administration.
Dallet will replace conservative Justice Michael Gableman, who retired.
Polls have closed in Wisconsin where a race for the state Supreme Court is drawing national interest.
Dallet narrowed the still-wide margins some in the Republican suburbs, and took home a staggering 80% of the vote in liberal Dane County, home to Madison.
Jan Rudd voted for Trump in November 2016 and on Tuesday for Screnock, a Sauk County circuit judge. She was re-elected in 2014 for a term that will expire in 2020.
But though these court elections are "nonpartisan", in practice the state supreme court has become bitterly divided along ideological lines, with millions of dollars in outside spending pouring into these contests - and conservatives usually tending to come out on top.
More news: You Can Now Broadcast Messages Across Amazon Echos with AlexaWisconsin Elections Commission spokesman Reid Magney said that as of midday Tuesday the commission was not aware of any access issues being caused by the snow storm.
Rebecca Dallet and Michael Screnock. The party labels will be on the ballot in November, encouraging stronger voter turnout. That is less than half the 50 percent average for the past four midterm elections.
The National Rifle Association has endorsed Screnock. Walker of wanting to avoid any more ominous signs by putting off special elections for two other vacant legislative seats.
"There's an bad lot of folks that are going to vote in November that we didn't see at the polls yesterday", Franklin said.
Screnock, who acknowledged his past as a protester, said Dallet was the real activist in the race and he could be an honest broker.
"I consider a lot of my ideas to be conservative, but I actually think we were leaning heavily too far that way", said Pfeifer. The Election Day will be on June 12th.
Also on Tuesday, voters soundly rejected a constitutional amendment favored by conservatives to eliminate the watchdog office of state treasurer. "But there's been a year and a half of activism, getting people organized and excited before this race". This year, rain and snow hit Wisconsin, but it did not appear to deter voters, at least not in the southern part of the state. Dozens of schools are already canceling classes.
Turnout was 22.2 percent - the highest for a spring election since 2011 when it was 34 percent.
Screnock, 48, was appointed judge by Walker in 2015.
If you haven't already read Allahpundit's piece on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, please do so. On Tuesday, however, Dallet lost by less than one-half of a percentage point.
The state's spring election is capping weeks of intense campaigning. Both states have five women, or 71%, on their seven-member courts.
