[3][4] Additionally, the state GOP had a strong showing in the State Legislature, building their largest majorities since 1957,[3][5] and Republican senator Ron Johnson defeated Russ Feingold a second time for a second term.

This election featured a contested race for Wisconsin Supreme Court, with Republicans' preferred candidate, recently-appointed justice Rebecca Bradley, winning a ten-year term.

[8] In a rematch of the 2010 election, first term incumbent Republican Ron Johnson ran against former Democratic U.S.

Justice Crooks' term was already set to expire in 2016, thus no special election needed to be scheduled.

[13] Though Wisconsin's judicial elections are officially nonpartisan, Bradley's victory was seen as a win for the Republican Party, as she supported a judicial philosophy in line with that of federal conservative judges like Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas.

During the election her primary backers were Republican-aligned interest groups such as the NRA Political Victory Fund and Wisconsin Right to Life.