Susan Crawford’s Win Preserves Wisconsin Liberal Court Majority

2 Apr at 8:00 am

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Susan Crawford’s Win Preserves Wisconsin Liberal Court Majority/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Susan Crawford has won Wisconsin’s supreme court race, defeating conservative Brad Schimel and preserving the court’s liberal majority. Elon Musk’s major funding efforts in support of Schimel faced backlash and did not sway the outcome. The decision holds national implications, especially for future congressional redistricting and U.S. House control.

Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel makes his concession speech to a crowd at his election night party Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Pewaukee, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

Wisconsin Supreme Court Victory Quick Looks

Democrat-backed Judge Susan Crawford won the pivotal Wisconsin Supreme Court race.
Her win maintains the 4-3 liberal majority on the state’s highest court.
Elon Musk funded more than $20 million toward conservative Brad Schimel’s campaign.
Musk’s involvement was heavily criticized by Democrats and featured in attack ads.
The court is expected to influence redistricting ahead of the 2026 and 2028 elections.
Crawford emphasized that “justice does not have a price” in her victory speech.
Despite Musk’s spending, voter turnout surged in Democratic strongholds like Milwaukee.
Wisconsin also passed a voter ID amendment, opposed by Crawford.
Musk had pledged payments to voters supporting conservative causes.
His social media response implied strategic loss for long-term conservative gains.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Race and Elon Musk Involvement: Deep Look

In a nationally watched judicial race with far-reaching implications, Wisconsin voters have elected liberal-leaning Judge Susan Crawford to the state’s Supreme Court, delivering a defeat to conservative contender Brad Schimel, who had the backing of billionaire Elon Musk.

The victory ensures that the state’s highest court remains under liberal control with a 4-3 majority—a political balance that could significantly impact congressional redistricting efforts ahead of the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election.

This race has been the most expensive judicial contest in U.S. history, with spending surpassing $100 million. Elon Musk alone contributed over $20 million through personal donations and affiliated entities, aiming to bolster Schimel’s campaign. However, his involvement became a focal point of controversy and was heavily targeted in Democratic campaign messaging.

Addressing supporters during her victory speech, Crawford highlighted the integrity of the judiciary, saying, “Wisconsin stood up and said loudly that justice does not have a price. Our courts are not for sale.” A former lawyer for Planned Parenthood, Crawford’s platform emphasized abortion rights, judicial independence, and opposition to Musk-backed conservative activism.

With nearly all votes counted, Crawford secured approximately 54% of the vote, compared to Schimel’s 45%, according to CBS News. Her win serves not just as a triumph for Wisconsin Democrats, but also as a strategic blow to Musk and former President Donald Trump, both of whom had tried to influence the outcome in this key battleground state.

Despite the loss, Musk attempted to reframe the result as part of a broader strategy. On his social media platform X, he commented, “I expected to lose, but there is value to losing a piece for a positional gain.” His remarks suggested that while this race was lost, the overall political maneuvering continues.

Musk’s heavy-handed involvement in the campaign drew ire from many Wisconsin voters. In Milwaukee, which saw unprecedented voter turnout and ballot shortages, several residents cited Musk as a key motivator for heading to the polls. One voter, Mike McClain, commented: “I don’t know how a billionaire, almost a trillionaire, can decide what’s going on. You can’t even relate with common people.”

Meanwhile, Musk’s direct engagement included distributing money at rallies and promising payments to supporters of conservative causes. At a weekend rally, he handed out $1 million checks and gave $100 to each voter who signed a petition opposing what he termed “activist judges.” A political action committee tied to Musk also offered $50 to individuals posting photos outside polling stations in support of Schimel.

On the same election day, Wisconsin voters approved a constitutional amendment requiring voter ID, further entrenching an existing law. Crawford had spoken out against the measure, framing it as a barrier to voting access.

Although Musk outspent all of Crawford’s backers, she still benefited from substantial donations by progressive donors, including George Soros, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman.

Brad Schimel, a former state attorney general, was endorsed by top Republican figures and ran on a platform closely aligned with Trump’s priorities. One of his supporters told reporters he viewed the race as critical to “reinforcing everything that Donald Trump has done.”

The broader conservative strategy included leveraging the court’s potential role in redistricting cases. Wisconsin’s current congressional map favors Republicans, who hold six of the state’s eight seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Democrats are expected to challenge this map, making the court’s composition even more consequential.

Trump’s political allies found some relief in Florida, where Republican candidates Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine retained their congressional seats in special elections. Still, the loss in Wisconsin marks a major political moment, raising questions about Musk’s role as a conservative power broker and the limits of billionaire influence in grassroots-driven elections.