1974 Wisconsin Supreme Court election

none April 2026 April 2026 1974 Wisconsin Supreme Court election Wisconsin presidential No 1973 Wisconsin Supreme Court election 1973 1975 Wisconsin Supreme Court election 1975 April 2, 1974 Horace W. Wilkie (Wisconsin Supreme Court justice) late-1960s portrait (3x4 crop).jpg Horace W. Wilkie c0c0c0 441,241 58.17% Raymond C. Johnson, Wisconsin Senate portrait (circa 1970) 3x4.jpg Raymond C. Johnson c0c0c0 317,346 41.83% File:1974 Wisconsin Supreme Court election results.svg 250px Wilkie: #51C2C2 50–60% #2AACAC 60–70% #009696 70–80%Johnson: #FF9A50 50–60% #EE8E50 60–70% #D69850 70–80% Justice Horace W. Wilkie Horace W. Wilkie 1964 Wisconsin Supreme Court election 1964 1979 Wisconsin Supreme Court election 1979 The 1974 Wisconsin Supreme Court election was held on April 2, 1974, to elect a justice to the Wisconsin Supreme Court for a ten-year term. Incumbent justice Horace W. Wilkie (who had held the seat since 1962) was re-elected to a second ten-year term. Background Wilkie was the second-most senior tenured justice on the court. Since seniority of tenure determined the court's chief justice at the time, and incumbent chief justice E. Harold Hallows would imminently need to retire upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70, the 1974 election would have the impact of determining the court's next chief justice. If Wilkie were re-elected, he would be poised to soon become chief justice. However, if Wilkie were defeated, then Bruce F. Beilfuss (the next-most senior judge) would instead become chief justice.Justice Beilfuss Will Again Run https://www.newspapers.com/image/1035397807 Newspapers.com subscription West Bend News April 17, 2026 2 December 28, 1972 Primary election Candidates Advanced to general election Horace W. Wilkie, incumbent justice Raymond C. Johnson, Republican senate majority leader from the 31st districtJustice Wilkie Raps Opponent Johnson https://www.newspapers.com/image/293555218 Newspapers.com subscription Herald-Times-Reporter The Associated Press April 10, 2026 Manitowoc-Two Rivers 15 March 5, 1975 Eliminated in primary Christ Alexopoulos, Milwaukee-based attorney and perennial judicial candidateAlexopolous had unsuccessfully run for Wisconsin Supreme Court in 1959, 1961, 1963; had unsuccessfully run for Circuit Court in 1960 and 1962; and had run other civil court campaigns as far back as 1954. He would later unsuccessfully run again for Supreme Court in 1975 and 1976For State Supreme Court; Alexopoulos Tries Again https://www.newspapers.com/image/293516541 Newspapers.com subscription Herald-Times-Reporter The Associated Press 10 April 2026 8 February 5, 1976 Primary Campaign While Wisconsin Supreme Court elections are non-partisan, Wilkie had earlier in his career run several campaigns for partisan office as a Democrat and Johnson was an incumbent Republican legislator.Chief Justice Horace Wilkie https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33976765/horace_w_wilkie_19171976/ The Capital Times May 25, 1976 40 Newspapers.com July 18, 2019 At the close of the primary election campaign, Wilkie criticized Johnson's television ads. Wilkie called it "unethical" of Johnson to have run television and radio that characterized Wilkie of engaging in impropriety by accepting campaign contributions from attorneys while a sitting justice. Wilkie remarked, "suggestions have been made that lawyers should be prohibited from contributing in judicial campaigns. In my opinion this would take away a basic civil right of each lawyer in a totally discriminatory way." Johnson responded by arguing his ads merely raised the question of whether lawyers should be solicited for money by an incumbent justice, to which Wilkie noted his campaign committee was an independent committee and that he was not himself soliciting donations. Despite projections of pleasant weather on the day of the primary, low turnout was anticipated due to the Supreme Court race (the only statewide office on the ballot) generating little excitement amongst the state's electorate.Light Vote Predicted https://www.newspapers.com/image/293555218 Newspapers.com subscription Herald-Times-Reporter April 10, 2026 Manitowoc-Two Rivers 15 March 5, 1975 Results thumb|Primary results by county: #51C2C2 Wilkie #ACF2F2 Wilkie—30–40% #7DDDDD Wilkie—40–50% #51C2C2 Wilkie—50–60% #2AACAC Wilkie—60–70% #009696 Wilkie—70–80% #FF9A50 Johnson #FFB580 Johnson—40–50% #FF9A50 Johnson—50–60% #EE8E50 Johnson—60–70% #D69850 Johnson—70–80% #B98A35 Johnson—80–90% 1974 Wisconsin Supreme Court primary election1975 Wisconsin Blue Book https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AK4UW47RO2T4A38E/pages/ALOVDWKRXPGRM28I 1975 Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau Elections in Wisconsin 782, 784 April 10, 2026 University of Wisconsin Libraries Nonpartisan politician Horace W. Wilkie (incumbent) 128,800 52.14% Nonpartisan politician Raymond C. Johnson 93,967 38.04% Nonpartisan politician Christ Alexopoulos 24,276 9.82% 247,043 100.0% General election Campaign Following the primary, Johnson was endorsed by several caucuses of the state Republican Party, as well as several elected Republican officials.Johnson Says Nelson Endorsement "Unethical" https://www.newspapers.com/image/520941518 Newspapers.com subscription The Capital Times April 10, 2026 23 April 1, 1974 Wilkie received the endorsement of Wisconsin Educators Politically Active and Concerned (WEPAC, the political arm of the Wisconsin Education Association Council). Shortly before the general election, Wisconsin Democratic senator Gaylord Nelson endorsed Wilkie for re-election.Nelson, State Teachers Back Wilkie for Court https://www.newspapers.com/image/520941518 Newspapers.com subscription The Capital Times April 10, 2026 23 April 1, 1974 Johnson criticized the endorsement as "unethical", alleging it violated a judicial ethics code rule. Wilkie refuted Johnson's criticism as inaccurate, and hypocritical (given Johnson's endorsements from Republican officeholders). Results 1974 Wisconsin Supreme Court election Nonpartisan politician Horace W. Wilkie (incumbent) 441,241 58.17% +4.97% Nonpartisan politician Raymond C. Johnson 317,346 41.83% N/A 758,587 100.0% -27.50% 123,895 16.33 +9.93 Notes References Category:Wisconsin Supreme Court elections Supreme Court Wisconsin