Liberal judge Susan Crawford secured a seat on Wisconsin’s Supreme Court on Tuesday, following a highly contested race that symbolized the ongoing conflict between President Donald Trump’s administration and the opposition. The contest also tested the political sway of Trump and his ally Elon Musk, the world’s most affluent individual, who directed significant financial backing towards Crawford’s Republican opponent, conservative Brad Schimel.
Key aspects of the race and its implications include:
- Susan Crawford’s victory maintains the Supreme Court’s four-three liberal majority. She led by a ten-point margin over Schimel, per The Associated Press, which declared the race in her favor.
The race underscores the broader political struggle for influence over Wisconsin’s judiciary, seen as a crucial battleground in the national conflict between Democrats and Republicans.
Donald Trump, who won Wisconsin in the 2024 presidential election, endorsed Schimel ahead of the vote. Musk and aligned political groups heavily invested in Schimel’s campaign, spending over $21 million to support him. This election marked the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history.
Schimel’s candidacy received substantial support, including endorsements and significant financial contributions, which Crawford and her Democratic allies viewed as an attempt by Musk and Trump to sway the election’s outcome.
Musk’s efforts to influence the election, including promising monetary incentives for voter recruitment, ultimately proved unsuccessful. Despite Musk’s substantial financial backing and involvement, Crawford emerged victorious.
A parallel development in Wisconsin saw voters approve a constitutional amendment requiring photo identification for voting, a measure championed by conservatives as a means to prevent fraud. Democrats have expressed concern that such measures could dissuade certain groups of voters, including students, elderly voters, and Black voters.
Additionally, Democrat Jill Underly triumphed over Republican Brittany Kinser to retain her position as Wisconsin’s state superintendent of public instruction, a critical role in overseeing public education in the state amidst discussions about the federal role in education.
The race’s importance lay not only in its immediate outcome but also in the broader implications for political and judicial power dynamics in Wisconsin. It provided insight into the potential for financial influence in U.S. elections and demonstrated the contentiousness of high-stake races in key swing states.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/2/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-results-what-happened-and-why-it-matters?traffic_source=rss
