The Democratic challenger to a Wisconsin judge backed by Donald Trump, has declared victory after an election marked by controversy and weighted down by the Covid-19- pandemic.

Jill Karofsky, who was challenging incumbent Republican Daniel Kelly for his seat on the state’s supreme court, declared victory and thanked her supporters, even as officials continued to tally results.

“I want to send a heartfelt thank you to the hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites who made their voice heard in this unprecedented election,” Ms Karofsky said.

Wisconsin primary Show all 13 1 /13 Wisconsin primary Wisconsin primary Steve Merriweather waits to vote inside Riverside University High School during the Wisconsin primary REUTERS Wisconsin primary Aaron Lipski, the assistant chief of the Milwaukee Fire Department, stands in a tyvec suit as he monitors health an safety at a polling station inside Hamilton High School during the Wisconsin primary REUTERS Wisconsin primary Voters practise social distancing in Milwaukee during the Wisconsin primary REUTERS Wisconsin primary Voters wait to cast their ballots at a polling station in Milwaukee during the Wisconsin primary REUTERS Wisconsin primary Rachel Messenger wears a sign reading 'Thank you for risking your life to vote' outside Riverside University High School in Milwaukee during the Wisconsin primary REUTERS Wisconsin primary Voters in masks wait to cast their ballots in Milwaukee during the Wisconsin primary REUTERS Wisconsin primary A line of voters outside Riverside University High School in Milwaukee during the Wisconsin primary REUTERS Wisconsin primary Voters filling out their ballots in Milwaukee during the Wisconsin primary REUTERS Wisconsin primary People wearing protective masks wait to vote in Milwaukee during the Wisconsin primary REUTERS Wisconsin primary A City of Milwaukee Election Commission worker takes a break during the Wisconsin primary AP Wisconsin primary City of Milwaukee Election Commission workers process absentee ballots during the Wisconsin primary AP Wisconsin primary Voters waiting to cast their ballots in Milwaukee during the Wisconsin primary EPA Wisconsin primary A line of people wait in their cars for their turn to vote at Riverside High School in Milwaukee during the Wisconsin primary EPA

“I’m honoured to have earned the trust of people across this state who believe in a tough, fair, and independent judiciary and I promise to never forget these principles as their Wisconsin supreme court justice.”

Yet she added: “Nobody in this state or in this country should have been forced to choose between their safety and participating in an election.”

Ms Karofsky was referring to the controversy last week when the state’s held a series of votes, for local and national office.

Joe Biden best Bernie Sanders in the battle to become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee.

Yet critics accused Republicans of endangering voters by declining to postpone the polls, or else permit absentee voting for everyone, forcing them to risk being infected by the coronavirus.

On the eve of the last week’s vote, Mr Trump had tweeted: “VOTE for Justice Daniel Kelly and be safe!”

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In a statement, Mr Kelly appeared to concede the race. “I congratulate judge Karofsky and wish her well,” he said.

Many were watching the race for the court seat because the winner will help decide future voting rights and redistricting issues in the state Wisconsin, a vital general election battleground, including a case now before the court that seeks to purge more than 200,000 people from Wisconsin’s voter rolls.