MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WSAU) — Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Joe Donald was eliminated from the race for State Supreme Court in Tuesday’s primary election. Donald had only 12% of the vote, and was a distant third behind frontrunning incumbent Justice Rebecca Bradley and Judge Joanne Kloppenburg.
Donald issued the following statement after the election: “I am proud of the campaign we ran and the issues we brought to the forefront. The influence of partisan politics and special interest money has a terrible impact on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and our entire judicial system, and I will continue to fight every day as a Circuit Court Judge in Milwaukee and a community leader to reduce the influence of politics and deliver justice fairly.
“It is also time for the citizens of Wisconsin and our elected leaders to seriously address the issue of mass incarceration. Our criminal justice system is not working for all citizens – especially people of color – and it is tearing too many families apart at great expense to taxpayers all across Wisconsin. I hope voters in April and in future elections continue to demand action on criminal justice reform. “I congratulate Justice Rebecca Bradley and Judge Joanne Kloppenburg for advancing through the primary election this evening, and encourage them to address these important issues on the campaign trail this spring.”