Wisconsin Supreme Court Race Could Shift Political Balance/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The race for Wisconsin’s Supreme Court has become a nationally watched showdown between conservative Brad Schimel and liberal Susan Crawford. Backed by powerful figures like Trump, Musk, Obama, and Soros, the outcome could influence key rulings on abortion, unions, and voting. Control of the court—and future election disputes—is at stake.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Race Could Shift Political Balance: Quick Looks
- High-stakes election to determine ideological control of Wisconsin’s top court.
- Brad Schimel backed by Trump, Elon Musk, and GOP groups.
- Susan Crawford supported by Obama, Soros, and pro-abortion rights groups.
- Over $90 million spent—making it the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history.
- Key issues include abortion, union rights, voter laws, and redistricting.
- Court’s future rulings could influence national elections and election disputes.
- Musk and Trump’s roles in the race have become campaign flashpoints.
- Winner gets a 10-year term, replacing retiring Justice Ann Walsh Bradley.
Deep Look: Wisconsin Supreme Court Race Draws National Spotlight and Record Spending
Voters in Wisconsin head to the polls Tuesday for what may be one of the most consequential judicial elections in U.S. history—a race for control of the state’s Supreme Court that’s drawn national political interest, record-setting spending, and the involvement of political titans like Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Barack Obama, and George Soros.
At the center of the battle are two sharply opposed candidates: Brad Schimel, a former Republican attorney general with strong support from Trump and Musk, and Susan Crawford, a liberal Dane County judge with backing from Democratic leaders and progressive donors.
This race will determine whether the Wisconsin Supreme Court maintains its 4-3 liberal majority—established in 2023—or returns to a conservative tilt, which had been in place for 15 years prior.
National Proxy War Over Local Court
The Wisconsin court wields significant power. It could soon hear cases tied to:
- Abortion access
- Public sector union rights
- Voter ID laws and voting restrictions
- Redistricting of congressional and legislative boundaries
- Legal challenges to future election results
The court’s influence over these issues has transformed a state-level judicial contest into a proxy battle for national political agendas.
President Trump underscored the importance of the race on Monday, telling reporters: “Winning Wisconsin’s a big deal, so therefore the Supreme Court choice… it’s a big race.”
Powerful Backers and Personal Involvement
Brad Schimel is endorsed by Trump and supported by Elon Musk, who has become a central figure in the campaign. Musk’s groups have poured more than $21 million into the race. He even visited Wisconsin personally on Sunday, handing out $1 million checks to voters and advocating for Schimel in person.
Schimel’s campaign emphasized public safety and conservative values, warning voters that Crawford would “rewrite state laws” to favor Democrats and undo Republican victories—such as the rollback of public employee collective bargaining rights.
Meanwhile, Susan Crawford positioned herself as a defender of civil liberties and women’s reproductive rights. Her campaign has leaned heavily on endorsements from Planned Parenthood and figures like Obama, as well as donors including George Soros and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.
Crawford also took aim at Schimel’s ties to Trump and Musk, going so far as to call him “Elon Schimel” during debates.
A Referendum on Trump and Musk’s Influence
This race is also viewed as the first major public referendum on Trump’s leadership since returning to the White House, and on the disruptive government reforms driven by Musk’s new Department of Government Efficiency, which has overseen mass layoffs and agency overhauls.
Democrats have framed the race as a test of whether Musk’s financial power can buy elections.
“If it works here, he’s going to do it all over the country,” warned Ben Wikler, Chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party.
Republicans, meanwhile, see a Schimel victory as critical to maintaining their policy agenda in a pivotal swing state and potentially defending against legal challenges in 2026 and 2028.
Donald Trump Jr. campaigned in Wisconsin during the final stretch, describing Schimel as essential to “preserving the rule of law” and protecting conservative victories.
Record-Breaking Spending and National Attention
With more than $90 million spent, this race is now the most expensive state Supreme Court contest in American history, easily eclipsing the previous $51 million record set during Wisconsin’s 2023 judicial election.
That massive spending has supercharged turnout, and both parties predict a tight finish—despite a liberal blowout in the last court election.
The race comes in a state known for razor-thin presidential margins. But in 2023, the liberal candidate won by 11 percentage points, surprising observers and giving Democrats hope for a repeat win.
What’s at Stake
The victor will replace retiring Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, a liberal, and serve a 10-year term.
- If Crawford wins, liberals will maintain control of the court until at least 2028, when the next liberal justice is up for reelection.
- If Schimel wins, the ideological balance flips, and conservatives could reclaim the majority as soon as next year.
The outcome will resonate far beyond Wisconsin. Legal challenges to presidential election results often come down to rulings by state supreme courts. With Wisconsin’s status as a perennial battleground, the court’s makeup could be decisive in how future election disputes are settled.
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