Democratic-Backed Susan Crawford Triumphs in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race, Securing Liberal Majority

Image – Title: Democratic-Backed Susan Crawford Triumphs in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race Source: AI-Generated Image (DALL·E) Description: Image of the Wisconsin Supreme Court has been successfully created, showcasing its architectural features along with the Wisconsin state flag and a clear blue sky. Date: April 2025 Attribution: Created by Open Chronicle using AI-generated imagery (DALL·E).

By Staff Writer with Agencies

Madison, Wis. — In a decisive victory that will shape Wisconsin’s judicial landscape for years to come, Susan Crawford, the Democratic-backed candidate for the state’s Supreme Court, defeated Republican-endorsed Brad Schimel on Tuesday. Crawford’s win ensures a liberal majority on the court for at least the next three years, a significant outcome in a state known for its high-stakes political battles.

🚨🚨Election Results Wisconsin:

Voter ID initiative passed, but this election could threaten the majority in the House.

🔥🔥Liberal judge Susan Crawford wins in a historic $100M Wisconsin Supreme Court race, preserving a 4-3 liberal majority.

Backed by Dems, she beat… pic.twitter.com/GA7HQtaeHm

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A Victory Against Powerful Interests

Standing on stage alongside the court’s four current liberal justices, Crawford framed her triumph as a win for democracy and a rejection of outside influence in state politics.

“Growing up in Chippewa Falls, I never could have imagined that I would be taking on the richest man in the world for justice in Wisconsin,” Crawford said. “And we won.”

Crawford’s comments were a direct jab at billionaire Elon Musk, who, along with former President Donald Trump, endorsed Schimel and poured millions into his campaign. Musk and affiliated groups spent over $21 million in an effort to defeat Crawford. The billionaire even made a last-minute trip to Wisconsin, personally delivering $1 million checks to two voters in an unprecedented display of political spending.

“Today, Wisconsinites fended off an unprecedented attack on our democracy, our fair elections, and our Supreme Court,” Crawford declared. “And Wisconsin stood up and said loudly that justice does not have a price—our courts are not for sale.”

A Record-Breaking Election

The race shattered records in both voter turnout and spending. Unofficial results showed Crawford leading Schimel by more than 8 percentage points, with voter turnout exceeding 52% of the voting-age population—eclipsing the previous high of nearly 40% in 2023. Total campaign spending is expected to surpass $100 million, making it the most expensive state Supreme Court race in U.S. history.

Schimel conceded defeat, though not all of his supporters were ready to accept the outcome. At his election night event, some attendees reacted with anger, with one woman chanting, “Cheater, cheater!” Schimel attempted to quell the unrest. “No,” he said, “You’ve got to accept the results.”

Despite the loss, Schimel kept the mood light, playing bass guitar with his classic rock cover band both before and after his concession speech, performing songs by the Allman Brothers, Tom Petty, and other legends.

A State Race with National Implications

Given Wisconsin’s status as a crucial battleground state, the election quickly became a proxy fight for broader national issues. Trump and Musk heavily backed Schimel, while Crawford received endorsements from high-profile Democrats, including former President Barack Obama and billionaire donor George Soros.

“Wisconsin’s a big state politically, and the Supreme Court has a lot to do with elections in Wisconsin,” Trump said on Monday. “Winning Wisconsin’s a big deal, so therefore the Supreme Court choice—it’s a big race.”

Crawford’s campaign embraced endorsements from Planned Parenthood and other abortion rights advocates, highlighting Schimel’s long-standing opposition to abortion. Meanwhile, Schimel attempted to portray Crawford as weak on crime and overly aligned with Democratic interests.

Musk, who has become increasingly involved in politics through his controversial Department of Government Efficiency, took a particularly aggressive stance in this race. He amplified claims that a Crawford victory would lead to redistricting changes that favor Democrats, urging last-minute votes through his social media platform, X.

The Court’s Future Agenda

With Crawford’s win, liberals maintain a 4-3 majority on the court, ensuring control until at least 2028. The court is expected to rule on several key issues in the coming years, including:

• Abortion laws: The court could soon decide the fate of Wisconsin’s abortion restrictions, an issue that played a central role in the campaign.
• Public sector unions: Legal battles over collective bargaining rights for public employees could resurface.
• Voting rights: The court may weigh in on voter ID laws, redistricting, and other election-related disputes.
• Congressional district maps: Republicans fear that a liberal court could redraw the state’s district boundaries, potentially tilting future elections in favor of Democrats.

Musk’s Controversial Role

Despite his heavy investment in the race, Musk remained silent about Crawford’s victory on his X platform, instead reposting messages about tariffs and Vietnam. His involvement, however, was a key factor in the election’s final days.

Musk contributed $3 million directly to Schimel’s campaign, while groups he backed funneled another $18 million into advertising and outreach. His most controversial move came two days before the election when he handed out $1 million checks to three voters who signed a petition against “activist” judges.

Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler seized on the optics of Musk’s spending spree: “Ultimately, I think it’s going to help Susan Crawford because people do not want to see Elon Musk buying election after election after election. If it works here, he’s going to do it all over the country.”

Voters React

Voters across Wisconsin had mixed reactions to the race and Musk’s involvement.

Jim Seeger, a 68-year-old retiree in Eau Claire, said he voted for Schimel out of concern for redistricting. “I don’t want to see the court changing our election maps just because Democrats think they can get away with it.”

Meanwhile, in Milwaukee, 22-year-old college student Kenneth Gifford said he cast his vote for Crawford because he felt Musk and Trump were trying to buy the election. “I want an actual, respectable democracy,” he said.

Looking Ahead

With this victory, the Wisconsin Supreme Court remains in liberal control, shaping the state’s legal and political future for at least the next three years. Nationally, the race has set a precedent for record-breaking spending and billionaire influence in judicial elections.

As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Wisconsin remains a political battleground where every election—no matter how local—has national ramifications.