OP-ED: Debunking Maria Lazar’s Myth of Moderation

Lazar is one of the most radical right-wing judges in Wisconsin

Maria Lazar portrait
Maria Lazar portrait

MAGA Republican-backed Judge Maria Lazar is on a mission to mislead Wisconsinites about her politics as she campaigns for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. So let’s set the record straight: Judge Lazar is one of the most radical right-wing judges in Wisconsin. Her words, record on the bench, and campaigns prove it.

In her own words, Lazar described the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which left Wisconsinites without safe or legal abortion care for months, as “very wise.” Lazar also publicly praised members of the right-wing extremist book-banning group Moms for Liberty as “fabulous and unbelievably brave.”

As for her record on the bench, Lazar sided with corporate polluters who are filling our waterways with toxic chemicals, ruled to release sensitive voter data to conspiracy theorists and make it harder for voters with disabilities to cast their ballot, and recently dodged questions about and refused to denounce Donald Trump’s effort to overturn his 2020 election loss in Wisconsin. 

Lazar’s campaign endorsements also speak volumes. Her campaign is endorsed by all six Wisconsin Republicans in Congress, and while running for the Court of Appeals in 2022 Lazar was endorsed by Pro-Life Wisconsin, notorious for their mission to ban abortion

When asked if she’s seeking an endorsement from Trump, Lazar said she would, “welcome the discussion.” She also has previously been endorsed by Jim Troupis, Trump’s former campaign attorney in Wisconsin who is now facing felony charges for trying to help Trump overturn the 2020 election.

Further, Lazar has spent a lot of time traveling around the state to appear with the Wisconsin Conservative Coalition, Moms for Liberty, and 5Riders, a group of right-wing organizations pushing an anti-LGBTQ, book-banning, and anti-abortion agenda across the state.  

So as hard as Lazar tries to mystify Wisconsinites, her mask of moderation isn’t working.

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A Better Wisconsin Together is a state-based research and communications hub for progressives and is an affiliate of ProgressNow.

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