If you’ve been scrolling through news feeds lately wondering did Susan Crawford win, the answer is a resounding yes. But "winning" doesn't even begin to cover the absolute chaos of what went down. This wasn't just a judge getting a new office. It was a $100 million slugfest that felt more like a Hollywood blockbuster than a local judicial race.
Honestly, the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election was a total fever dream.
On April 1, 2025, Susan Crawford, a Dane County Circuit Court judge, officially beat Brad Schimel. She didn't just squeak by, either. She secured roughly 55% of the vote, leaving Schimel with about 45%. This victory didn't just keep her job title moving up; it fundamentally locked in a liberal majority on Wisconsin's highest court until at least 2028.
The Night the Records Broke
You've gotta understand how much money was flying around. We’re talking about the most expensive judicial election in the history of the United States. Period.
Early estimates from groups like the Brennan Center for Justice put the total spending near $99 million, and some trackers saw it blast past $100 million once the final "dark money" tallies trickled in. Why so much cash for a single seat? Because this one seat controls the tie-breaking vote on everything from abortion rights to how the state's congressional maps are drawn.
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The atmosphere on election night was electric and, frankly, a bit weird.
- Susan Crawford stood on stage flanked by the court’s other four liberal justices.
- Brad Schimel, a former Attorney General, literally played bass with his classic rock cover band at his own watch party before (and after!) conceding.
- Elon Musk was essentially the third candidate in the room, despite not being on the ballot.
The Musk Factor
It's impossible to talk about whether Susan Crawford won without mentioning the massive shadow cast by Elon Musk. He didn't just endorse Schimel; he went all in. Musk’s super PACs poured over $21 million into the state. He even showed up in Wisconsin just 48 hours before the polls opened, handing out $1 million checks to individual voters as part of a sweepstakes that many legal experts called "wildly legally questionable."
Crawford leaned into this. In her victory speech, she specifically called out the "richest man in the world," framing her win as a sign that Wisconsin’s courts aren't for sale. It was a savvy move that clearly resonated with the 52% of the voting-age population that actually showed up—a record-shattering turnout for a spring election.
Why This Win Changes Everything
So, Susan Crawford won. Great. But what does that actually mean for people living in Wisconsin?
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Basically, the 4-3 liberal majority is now set in stone for the next few years. This court is currently staring down some of the most consequential cases in the state's history.
Abortion Access
The biggest motivator for Crawford’s base was clearly reproductive rights. Since the fall of Roe v. Wade, Wisconsin has been caught in a legal tug-of-war over an 1849 law. Crawford’s victory ensures that the justices hearing these challenges are largely sympathetic to keeping abortion legal in the state.
Redistricting and "Gerrymandering"
Republicans were terrified that a Crawford win would lead to a total redrawing of the state’s congressional districts. They weren't wrong to worry. With Crawford on the bench, there’s a massive chance the court will toss out current maps, which could flip several U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterms.
Labor and Unions
Remember Act 10? The 2011 law that stripped public unions of their collective bargaining rights? It’s been a thorn in the side of Wisconsin Democrats for over a decade. Crawford has a history of representing unions, and labor advocates are already prepping to bring cases to the court to finally dismantle that law.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Result
A lot of folks assume this was a narrow, partisan fluke. It wasn't.
Crawford actually overperformed in places you wouldn't expect. In Racine County—a place that voted for Donald Trump in 2024—Crawford managed to pull out a narrow win by about 1,000 votes. She also dominated the "WOW" counties (Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington), which are traditionally Republican strongholds. While she didn't win all of them, she cut into the conservative margins deep enough to make Schimel’s path to victory impossible.
There’s also a misconception that the race was purely about national politics. While Obama and Bernie Sanders endorsed Crawford, and Trump backed Schimel, the local "vibe" was very much focused on the independence of the judiciary. Many moderate voters reportedly felt that the involvement of Musk and the $1 million checks made the race feel "gross," pushing them toward Crawford as a vote for stability.
Actionable Takeaways from the Crawford Victory
If you're following this because you care about the future of Wisconsin or how these high-spend judicial races affect the country, here is what you need to keep an eye on next:
- Watch the 2026 Midterms: The redistricting cases will likely move fast. If the court orders new maps by the end of 2025, the 2026 elections will look completely different, potentially changing the balance of power in Washington.
- Monitor the "Musk Effect": This election was a test case for whether a billionaire can "buy" a state supreme court. Because it failed so spectacularly in Wisconsin, look for other states to consider tighter regulations on "sweepstakes" style campaigning.
- August 1st Start Date: Susan Crawford won the election in April, but she was officially sworn in on August 1, 2025. Any major rulings you see coming out of the court now likely have her signature on them.
- Check Your Registration: Turnout was over 50%, which is insane for a spring race. If you want a say in the 2028 seat (the next time a liberal justice is up), make sure you're keeping your voter registration active.
Ultimately, Susan Crawford’s win was a seismic shift. It proved that in the middle of a hyper-polarized era, people are still willing to turn out in droves for "sleepy" judicial races if the stakes are high enough. Whether you love the result or hate it, there’s no denying that the 2025 election changed the trajectory of Wisconsin law for a generation.