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If you were following the headlines in April 2025, you probably saw the name Susan Crawford everywhere. It wasn't just another local judicial race. It was a massive, $100 million showdown that basically turned Wisconsin into the center of the political universe for a few weeks. But when people ask, "Who did Susan Crawford run against?" they aren't just looking for a name. They're looking for the story of a high-stakes collision between two very different visions for the law.
The short answer is Brad Schimel.
But honestly, that’s just the surface. This race was about way more than two judges from different counties. It was a proxy war involving the richest man in the world, the sitting President of the United States, and the future of everything from abortion access to how voting maps are drawn in the Midwest.
The Main Event: Crawford vs. Schimel
Susan Crawford, a Dane County Circuit Court judge with a long history of working with Democratic governors and progressive groups, was running to keep a liberal majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. On the other side of the ring was Brad Schimel.
Schimel wasn't exactly a newcomer. He was a Waukesha County judge, but most people knew him as the former Republican Attorney General of Wisconsin. He had the "tough on crime" brand down to a science. He even played bass in a classic rock cover band called "4 on the Floor" during his campaign parties. Seriously. While Crawford was being flanked by the court's liberal justices, Schimel was out there playing Tom Petty covers and wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat.
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The contrast couldn't have been sharper.
Why the opponent mattered
In Wisconsin, these races are technically nonpartisan. There’s no "D" or "R" next to the names. But nobody was fooled.
- Susan Crawford had the backing of the state's Democratic machine and figures like Bernie Sanders.
- Brad Schimel was the hand-picked champion of the GOP, earning a late-game endorsement from Donald Trump.
The seat was open because Justice Ann Walsh Bradley—a long-time liberal—was retiring. If Schimel won, the court would flip back to conservative control. If Crawford won, the 4-3 liberal majority stayed put.
The "Third Candidate" in the Room: Elon Musk
You can't talk about who Susan Crawford ran against without mentioning Elon Musk. It sounds like a conspiracy theory, but it’s just the facts: Musk poured over $20 million into the state to support Schimel.
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It was wild.
Musk’s super PACs were everywhere. He even did a "checks for signatures" thing where people were getting $100 for signing petitions, which the Crawford campaign called an attempt to "buy" a seat on the bench. Crawford actually leaned into this. She’d go on stage and say she never thought a girl from Chippewa Falls would be taking on the world’s richest man. It worked. The "People vs. Musk" narrative became a huge part of why she won by a solid 10 points.
How the Race Ended
When the dust settled on April 1, 2025, the numbers were pretty clear. Crawford pulled in about 55% of the vote, while Schimel landed at 44.9%.
It wasn't even as close as some people expected.
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Crawford managed to flip counties like Brown (Green Bay), which Trump had won just months earlier in the 2024 presidential election. People were clearly exhausted by the nationalized drama. Schimel conceded around 9:30 PM that night, telling his supporters they had to "accept the results" even as some in the crowd shouted about the election being stolen.
Quick Facts from the Crawford-Schimel Race
| Detail | Susan Crawford | Brad Schimel |
|---|---|---|
| Home Base | Dane County (Madison) | Waukesha County |
| Previous Big Role | Chief Legal Counsel to Gov. Jim Doyle | Wisconsin Attorney General |
| Key Endorsement | Barack Obama, Planned Parenthood | Donald Trump, Elon Musk |
| Vote Percentage | 55.02% | 44.92% |
What Happened Before? (Crawford’s 2018 Run)
If you're digging into Crawford's history, you might also find her 2018 race. That one was way more "local." She ran for the Dane County Circuit Court against Marilyn Townsend.
Townsend was a municipal judge, and it was a much quieter affair compared to the 2025 explosion. Crawford won that one too, but only by about 3,800 votes. It’s funny to look back at that $100k-style race compared to the $100 million behemoth she just finished.
Actionable Insights: Why This Matters Now
Susan Crawford is now a Justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court (she was sworn in on August 1, 2025). Since she won, the liberal majority is safe until at least 2028. Here is what you should keep an eye on as a result of who she beat:
- Abortion Access: The court is now widely expected to strike down the state’s 1849 abortion ban.
- Redistricting: There’s a high chance the state’s congressional maps will be redrawn before the 2026 midterms, which could change who represents Wisconsin in D.C.
- Labor Rights: Issues regarding collective bargaining for public unions are back on the table.
If you live in Wisconsin or just care about swing-state politics, keep a close watch on the court’s 2026 calendar. The decisions Crawford makes now will shape the state for the next decade. If you want to see how your specific area voted, you can check the certified results on the Wisconsin Elections Commission website to see just how much of an impact the Musk-Schimel-Trump alliance actually had in your backyard.