CALLED IT THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL ELECTION OF THE YEAR.

IT DREW PLENTY OF NATIONAL ATTENTION AND EVEN MORE MONEY .

FUNDING FOR THE RACE WAS MORE THAN $40 MILLION.

IN THE END, THE DEMOCRAT BUILT THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IN THE STATE HIGH COURT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 15 YEARS.

JOINING AS TO EXPLAIN THE IMPLICATION OF THAT VICTORY IS SHAUNA JOHNSON WITH WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WHAT DOES THIS ELECTION INTO THE STATE?

>> I THINK IT IS A PRETTY BIG DEAL FOR US.

WE ARE USED TO HEARING EVERY ELECTION CYCLE THAT THIS ELECTION IS THE BIGGEST ELECTION OF THEM ALL.

THIS ONE LIVED UP TO THE BILLING IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

FIRST OF ALL, HOW LONG IT HAS BEEN SINCE LIBERALS HAVE HAD A MAJORITY ON OUR COURT.

TYPICALLY, IN STATEWIDE ELECTIONS, WE ARE A STATE THAT GOES BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

THE STATE SUPREME COURT HAS BEEN IN CONSERVATIVE HANDS FOR 15 YEARS.

THAT IS A BIG CHANGE FOR US ALONG THOSE LINES.

ALSO , JUST THE SIZE OF THE ISSUES THAT THIS COURT IS NOW POISED TO DEAL WITH MAKES THIS ELECTION SO CONSEQUENTIAL BECAUSE THESE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE NOT ONLY OF THE FULL FRONT OF EVERYBODY'S MINDS RIGHT NOW BUT ALSO HAVE CONSEQUENCES POTENTIALLY, FOR YEARS TO COME.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BIG ONES THEY ARE EXPECTED TO HERE.

ONE ON ABORTION AND ONE ON THE ELECTION MAP.

WHAT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT ABORTION?

>> SHE HAS BEEN UNSPOKEN ABOUT HER PERSONAL BELIEFS ON ABORTION.

SHE SAID SHE BELIEVES THAT WOMEN HAVE A RIGHT TO CHOOSE.

SHE ALSO SAID SHE IS NOT SAYING HOW SHE WOULD RULE ON THE CASE IN THE COURT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHEN SHE IS TALKING TO SUPPORTERS THEY BELIEVE SHE IS IN THEIR CAMP AND THAT SHE WILL RULE THEIR WAY.

THERE IS A CASE WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE WISCONSIN COURT SYSTEM RIGHT NOW THAT IS PRETTY CONSEQUENTIAL.

WE HAVE, IN WISCONSIN AN ABORTION BAN THAT WAS WRITTEN BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR , IN 1849 THAT HAD BEEN DORMANT FOR YEARS , BUT IT WAS PUT BACK INTO EFFECT AFTER THE U.S. SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED ROE V. WADE.

A LAWSUIT WOULD OVERTURN THE ABORTION BAN AND IT WOULD GO BEFORE THE COURT.

>> THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE LEGISLATIVE ELECTION MAP.

WHAT ABOUT THAT ONE?

>> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CASE IS YET EXACTLY, BUT WE KNOW THE BROAD STROKES OF THE ISSUE.

IN WISCONSIN , WITH CLOSED STATEWIDE ELECTIONS THAT WE'VE HAD FOR MORE THAN A DECADE NOW, IT IS A VERY LOPSIDED LEGISLATURE WITH REPUBLICAN MAJORITIES , THANKS IN LARGE PART TO A REPUBLICAN DRAWN LEGISLATIVE MAP.

THAT WAS LAST YEAR ENDORSED BY THE CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY ON THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT .

THE WINNER SAID SHE THINKS THE MAP IS RIGGED AND THAT SHE WOULD LIKE FOR THE COURT TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE MAP.

SHE IS GOING TO BE IN THE MAJORITY RIGHT NOW AND WILL PROBABLY GIVE THEM THEIR WISH BECAUSE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GROUPS AND A NUMBER OF LEGISLATORS, EVEN MAYBE OUR GOVERNOR WHO WILL BE ABLE TO FILE SOMETHING BEFORE THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT AND SAY, LET'S