Dane County Judge Susan Crawford has secured a position on the Wisconsin Supreme Court as of Tuesday, reinforcing liberal dominance over the court until 2028. This outcome reflects a decisive rejection by voters of former President Donald Trump’s policies alongside the substantial financial influence of his key adviser, Elon Musk.
Crawford’s success can be attributed to the high voter turnout in Dane and Milwaukee counties, where she outperformed Kamala Harris’s previous results in various state regions, ultimately defeating her opponent, Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel, by approximately 11 points.
Having previously served as chief legal counsel under Democratic Governor Jim Doyle and representing progressive organizations such as Planned Parenthood and the Madison teacher’s union in private practice, Crawford stated during her campaign that she would advocate for the rights of all Wisconsinites on the Supreme Court. She consistently criticized Schimel for his open support of Trump, his attorney general record, and the external financial backing his campaign received from Musk.
Crawford’s victory signifies the third consecutive win for Wisconsin’s liberal candidates in Supreme Court elections, preserving the 4-3 liberal majority established since Justice Janet Protasiewicz’s election in 2023. She will succeed retiring Justice Ann Walsh Bradley.
Since assuming control of the court, the liberal majority has declared the state’s earlier legislative maps unconstitutional, thus dismantling a partisan gerrymander that had secured Republican dominance in the Legislature for over a decade. They have also agreed to hear cases concerning citizens’ abortion rights and are expected to review a challenge to Wisconsin’s 2011 law that stripped away most union rights from public employees in the next year or two.
“I’m here tonight because I’ve dedicated my life to fighting for what’s right,” Crawford expressed following her victory announcement. “I entered this race to safeguard the fundamental rights and freedoms for everyone.”
Schimel mentioned that he entered the race opposing the “partisanship” of the liberal-controlled Court. However, his attempt to nationalize the election and showcase his alignment with Trump fell short amid significant backlash against Trump’s second term as well as public skepticism towards Musk, who attempted to incentivize voter turnout for Schimel.
The election marked the first statewide race in the U.S. since Trump’s presidential victory last fall. Despite Trump’s narrow win in Wisconsin, Schimel struggled to match his vote count across several counties. In La Crosse County, Crawford outperformed Harris’s previous year’s results by 11 points, while Schimel failed to capture Trump’s vote percentage in his own Waukesha County.
Schimel maintained close numbers with former Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly, who lost to Protasiewicz in 2023. Wisconsin conservatives have now suffered defeat in the past three Supreme Court elections by significant margins.
The 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race set a record for the most expensive judicial campaign in U.S. history, exceeding $100 million. While Crawford garnered backing from liberal billionaires like George Soros and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Musk significantly outpaced all other contributors, investing over $20 million into the race.
Musk’s financial backing contributed to a flurry of attack ads targeting Crawford’s judicial record, painstakingly criticizing her sentencing decisions for sexual violence offenders. A political action committee associated with Musk also coordinated efforts to canvass thousands of doors to mobilize Trump’s Wisconsin voter base.
“But I must say, growing up in Chippewa Falls, I never envisioned that I would be contesting against the wealthiest individual in the world for justice in Wisconsin,” Crawford reflected. “And we triumphed.”
In his concession speech delivered shortly before 9:30 p.m., Schimel thanked supporters and emphasized that they “didn’t hold anything back,” but also noted the need to accept the results. “The numbers aren’t going to shift. It’s unfortunate; we can’t change the outcome,” he stated. “Thank you all. I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. God bless you. God bless the state of Wisconsin. God bless America. We will rise again. We’ll regroup to fight another day; it just wasn’t our moment.”
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin capitalized on voters’ concerns regarding Musk’s actions related to vast public sector cuts and mass layoffs, holding People v. Musk town halls statewide to address residents’ fears about the ramifications on essential services such as Medicaid, Social Security, veteran’s benefits, and educational funding.
Governor Tony Evers remarked that Wisconsin “felt the weight of America” during this election, highlighting that Wisconsinites “will not be purchased.”
“This election was a testament to the resilience of the values that define and unite Wisconsin and America,” Evers stated. “It was about prioritizing what’s best for our children, upholding constitutional checks and balances, reaffirming trust in the judiciary, and defending against threats to our fundamental rights, freedoms, and institutions. Above all, this election reflected both what Wisconsinites aspire to be and the nation we believe we must embody.”
Democrats and Crawford accused Musk of attempting to leverage a seat on the Supreme Court to sway a lawsuit by Tesla challenging a Wisconsin statute prohibiting direct car sales from manufacturers to consumers. Musk maintained that his interest stemmed from the court’s potential to assess the constitutionality of Wisconsin’s congressional maps, which currently benefit Republicans and facilitate their narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
At the victory celebration, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler likened the campaign against Musk and Trump to Governor Robert “Fighting Bob” La Follette’s battle against early 20th-century oligarchs, asserting that Republicans’ ties with Musk would be an “anchor.”
“What Susan Crawford accomplished by clearly positioning Elon Musk as her real adversary in this race resonated with voters, establishing that Musk is politically toxic and a considerable burden that will weigh down Republican prospects,” Wikler stated. “That’s a message Republicans in Washington should heed quickly. They won’t just lose; they will rightfully suffer a resounding defeat and face a wave of public outrage nationwide.”
Throughout the campaign, Crawford sought to associate Schimel with Musk, branding him “Elon Schimel” during the only debate the two had, while aiming to present herself as the more neutral candidate. Both candidates exchanged charges of extreme political views throughout this ostensibly non-partisan race.
With Crawford’s victory and the continuation of the liberal majority on the Court, significant rulings are anticipated concerning issues such as women’s access to abortion, the legality of a Republican-backed law limiting collective bargaining rights for most public employees, environmental regulations in Wisconsin’s industries, and the constitutionality of state congressional maps.
Heather Williams, spokesperson for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, stated that Democrats present a superior vision for the country compared to the one offered by Schimel, Trump, and Musk.
“In spite of Republicans’ efforts to purchase this seat, Wisconsin voters affirmed their values and future,” Williams emphasized. “As Trump dismantles programs vital to taxpayers, voters nationwide are turning toward state Democrats who are fulfilling commitments to reduce costs and expand opportunities.”
