Powered by a surge in Republican turnout for the state's presidential primary, Rebecca Bradley pushed past heaps of negative publicity over her inflammatory college writings to defeat JoAnne Kloppenburg and win a 10-year term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Less than a month ago, it appeared Kloppenburg had the momentum after articles that Bradley wrote 20 years ago in college bashing gays, AIDS victims and feminists surfaced. The articles generated plenty of negative headlines, forcing Bradley into apologies on the campaign trail. But Republicans rallied behind her and pushed her to victory Tuesday.

"I hope I'm a little different than (I was) 30 years ago," said Steve Hanrahan, 62, of Sun Prairie, after he cast his ballot for Bradley.

Bradley issued a brief statement early Wednesday thanking her supporters. She said she was proud that she ran a positive campaign.

Kloppenburg has now lost two bids for the high court in the last five years. The state appellate judge and former assistant attorney general tried unsuccessfully to unseat conservative-leaning Justice David Prosser in 2011. Her campaign manager, Melissa Mulliken, blamed the loss on GOP presidential contenders Ted Cruz and Donald Trump.