Democrat-aligned Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford clinched victory in Wisconsin’s high-stakes Supreme Court election on Tuesday, defeating Trump-backed Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge and former Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel. The Associated Press projected the win at 10:16 p.m. ET, just over an hour after polls closed, preserving the court’s 4-3 liberal majority.
With nearly 70 percent of votes counted—amounting to nearly 1.6 million ballots—Crawford led Schimel 55.9 percent to 44.1 percent. Her win ensures continued liberal control over the Wisconsin Supreme Court, shaping the outcome of major cases on abortion, election integrity, and labor unions in the years to come.
As expected, Democrats and leftist media framed the election as another battle over abortion in the wake of Roe v. Wade’s overturn in 2022. Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion restriction, currently on hold, is anticipated to come before the state’s Supreme Court later this year. Liberals invested heavily in the race, seeing it as a critical opportunity to secure favorable rulings on this issue.
Beyond abortion, the election also has major implications for redistricting. Democrats backing Crawford hope to redraw legislative maps in their favor, potentially flipping two U.S. House seats and threatening the Republican majority in Congress. Republicans campaigned aggressively against this power grab, with even tech mogul Elon Musk stepping in to support Schimel’s campaign.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court race shattered records, with spending expected to exceed $100 million—nearly double the previous record set in 2023. By Monday, more than $90 million had already poured into the race, according to the Associated Press.
While judicial races are technically nonpartisan, both political camps viewed this election as crucial to their broader national agendas. Wisconsin justices serve ten-year terms, and another chance to shift the balance of power won’t come until 2028.
Crawford’s campaign was backed by a flood of left-wing billionaire dollars. Progressive mega-donors like George Soros, Reid Hoffman, and J.B. Pritzker—figures notorious for bankrolling radical policies like defunding the police and gender ideology—helped propel her to victory. Crawford raised over $26 million compared to Schimel’s $14 million, as reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Disturbingly, a Journal Sentinel analysis found that 77 percent of Crawford’s donations came from out-of-state, whereas Schimel’s campaign was largely fueled by Wisconsinites. This suggests a coordinated effort by national leftist networks to influence Wisconsin’s judiciary and, by extension, its legislative future.
Crawford’s victory follows the 2023 landslide win of liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz over conservative Dan Kelly, which flipped the court to a 4-3 liberal majority. With the retirement of Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, this election was another opportunity for conservatives to reclaim balance—but instead, it cemented the court’s leftward tilt.
Beyond the Supreme Court race, Wisconsin voters also cast ballots on local elections, including school board seats, city council positions, and judicial roles. Additionally, Wisconsinites overwhelmingly approved a referendum to permanently enshrine voter ID laws in the state constitution, marking a crucial win for election integrity advocates.
With Crawford’s win, expect the Wisconsin Supreme Court to become a battlefield for left-wing policies over the next decade. Republicans must now shift focus to defending legislative majorities and pushing back against judicial activism in the courts.
While the fight isn’t over, this election serves as a stark reminder that conservatives must remain vigilant, engaged, and committed to preserving our nation’s founding principles at every level of government.
