The Latest on the Wisconsin Supreme Court election (all times local):

9:50 p.m.

The losing candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court is blaming his defeat on liberal special interests that backed his opponent.

Milwaukee Circuit Judge Rebecca Dallet easily defeated conservative Sauk County Circuit Judge Michael Screnock. Democrats hailed the win as another sign of momentum for liberals this year. It's the first time a liberal candidate has won an open seat for Wisconsin Supreme Court since 1995.

Screnock says he was proud of his campaign "in spite of tremendous outside influence from liberal special interest groups that were willing to say and spend anything to elect their preferred candidate to the bench."

Both candidates were backed by partisans. Screnock was supported by the National Rifle Association, Republican Gov. Scott Walker and the state GOP, while Dallet was endorsed by former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden and others.

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9:14 p.m.

Liberal Rebecca Dallet says her victory in Wisconsin's Supreme Court race over conservative Michael Screnock shows that voters are tired of special interests and want to have a "fair and independent court."

Other Democrats were quick to brand the win for Dallet a defeat for Republican Gov. Scott Walker and others in the GOP. Walker had endorsed Screnock.

Dallet tells The Associated Press that her win shows "people are tired of what's been going on in our state in terms of the money coming in to buy these elections and people spoke out tonight."

Her victory marks the first time since 1995 that a liberal candidate for Supreme Court won in a race where the seat is open.

The victory reduces conservative control of the court from 5-2 to 4-3.

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8:58 p.m.

Liberal Rebecca Dallet has easily defeated conservative Michael Screnock in a Wisconsin Supreme Court race seen as the latest bellwether of voter attitudes ahead of the November election.

Dallet's victory cuts conservative control of the state's highest court from 5-2 to 4-3. She also becomes the sixth woman on the seven-member court.

Conservative Justice Michael Gableman did not seek a second 10-year term.

Wisconsin's high court has become notably partisan in recent years even though it's nonpartisan in name.

Dallet, a Milwaukee County judge, drew strong Democratic support including an endorsement from former Vice President Joe Biden.

Screnock, a Sauk County judge appointed and endorsed by Republican Gov. Scott Walker, had the backing of the National Rifle Association and the Wisconsin Republican Party.

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8:45 p.m.

The liberal candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court is leading the conservative in early results of the first statewide general election this year in the United States and the latest measure of voter attitudes heading into the November midterms.

The election Tuesday

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