A unanimous Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Friday that the swing state’s nonpartisan top elections official, who has been targeted for removal by Republican lawmakers over the 2020 presidential election, can remain in her post despite not being reappointed and confirmed by the state Senate.

Republicans who control the state Senate tried to fire Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe in 2023, leading the commission to sue in an effort to keep Wolfe on the job.

The state Supreme Court on Friday upheld a lower court’s ruling in Wolfe’s favor. The 7-0 ruling means that Wolfe can remain in her position and not face a confirmation vote by the Republican-controlled Senate.

The court said that no vacancy exists and, because of that, the elections commission “does not have a duty to appoint a new administrator to replace Wolfe simply because her term has ended.”

Wolfe said in a statement that she was pleased with the decision and was excited to continue working on upcoming statewide elections on Feb. 18 and April 1.

“I have every confidence that our clerks will continue to deliver fair and accurate elections to all Wisconsin communities,” she said.

Republican Senate leaders said they were disappointed with the ruling.

“Senate Republicans will continue to do everything we can to ensure that Wisconsin has free and fair elections and restore integrity to the process,” Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu and Senate President Mary Felzkowski said in a joint statement.

Wolfe did not reply to an email seeking comment.

The court relied on the precedent set in its 2022 ruling that allowed Republican-appointee Fred Prehn to remain on the state Natural Resources Board after his term had ended. That ruling came when the court was controlled by conservatives. The court now has a 4-3 liberal majority.

Reliance on the Prehn decision should not be taken as an endorsement of the reasoning in that case, liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley wrote in a concurring opinion. She was joined by fellow liberal justices Rebecca Dallet and Jill Karofsky.

Because neither side asked for that ruling to be overturned or modified, it was not addressed in the Wolfe decision, the liberal justices said.

“Those justices cannot have it both ways,” Chief Justice Annette Ziegler and fellow conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley wrote in response.

“If the rule of law is to govern, the resolution of each case should not depend upon the individual occupying the office,” they wrote.

Wolfe was targeted for removal by Republicans who were unhappy with the 2020 presidential election won by former President Joe Biden.