If you’ve been scrolling through your feed wondering about the fallout of the latest legal showdown in America’s favorite political laboratory, you aren't alone. Wisconsin just wrapped up a race that felt more like a heavyweight title fight than a judicial election. Susan Crawford won the Wisconsin Supreme Court race on April 1, 2025, and she didn't just win—she sort of crushed the expectations of a lot of national observers who thought the tide might be turning.
The numbers are pretty staggering. Crawford, a Dane County Circuit Court judge, walked away with roughly 55% of the vote (specifically 55.02%, or 1,301,137 votes), while her opponent, former Attorney General Brad Schimel, pulled in about 45% (44.92%, or 1,062,330 votes). It’s a 10-point gap. In a state where elections are usually decided by the width of a razor blade, that’s basically a landslide.
The $100 Million Race Nobody Expected to Be This Big
Seriously, let's talk about the money. This wasn't just another local vote. It became the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history. We are talking upwards of $100 million spent when you count all the outside groups, the TV ads that made everyone want to throw their remotes out the window, and the digital blitzes.
Elon Musk, the guy who seems to be everywhere in politics these days, poured millions into trying to help Schimel. He even did these weird $1 million giveaways to voters just days before the election. On the other side, you had heavy hitters like George Soros and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker backing Crawford. It was a proxy war for 2026 and beyond.
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Why this victory matters so much
Basically, Crawford’s win keeps the court in liberal control. Before the election, liberals held a 4-3 majority. Since Crawford is replacing the retiring liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, the balance stays exactly the same: 4-3.
If Schimel had won? The court would have flipped back to conservative control. That would have changed everything for abortion access, voting maps, and union rights in the state. Instead, the "liberal bloc" of Crawford, Janet Protasiewicz, Rebecca Dallet, and Jill Karofsky is locked in until at least 2028.
The Musk Factor and the "Money Can't Buy Justice" Theme
During her victory speech in Madison, Crawford was pretty blunt. She told the crowd, "I never could have imagined that I would be taking on the richest man in the world for justice in Wisconsin." And honestly, that message resonated. Voters in Wisconsin—even some who aren't dyed-in-the-wool Democrats—sort of got annoyed with the idea of a billionaire from out of state trying to tilt their high court.
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The geographic split was fascinating.
- Dane County: Crawford absolutely dominated here with about 76% of the vote.
- Milwaukee County: No surprise, she won big there too, pulling over 80% in the city-heavy 4th District.
- The "WOW" Counties: Schimel won Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington, but he didn't win them by enough to offset the massive turnout in the cities.
- The Drift: Interestingly, Crawford managed to keep it close or even win in some "swing" areas like Brown County (Green Bay), where she took 51.5%.
What happens now?
Now that Susan Crawford is officially on the bench—she was sworn in on August 1, 2025—the court is diving into some heavy stuff.
- Abortion Rights: There are ongoing challenges to Wisconsin’s old statutes. Crawford was very open during the campaign about her support for reproductive rights, and everyone expects the court to eventually issue a definitive ruling that protects abortion access statewide.
- Redistricting: Don't be surprised if the legislative maps get another look. Even though they were recently redrawn, there’s always a push to see if they can be made "fairer" (which usually means better for Democrats).
- Union Power: The "Act 10" era—the laws that stripped most public unions of collective bargaining rights—is under the microscope. This court is much more likely to side with labor unions than previous versions of the bench.
Acknowledging the Other Side
It’s worth mentioning that Schimel didn't go down without a fight. He ran heavily on a "soft on crime" narrative, attacking Crawford’s sentencing record in Dane County. He argued that Crawford would be a "judicial activist" who would just rubber-stamp the Democratic agenda. For about 45% of the state, that message hit home. Schimel even played bass with his classic rock band at his election night party—honestly a pretty human move for a guy who just lost a $100 million race. He conceded gracefully, telling his supporters they had to accept the results even when some started shouting about "cheating."
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Actionable Insights for Wisconsin Residents
So, who won the Wisconsin Supreme Court race? Susan Crawford did. But what should you do with that information?
- Watch the Docket: If you care about reproductive health or labor laws, the next 12 to 18 months are crucial. Follow the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s website for oral argument dates.
- Stay Registered: Turnout for this race was over 52% of the voting-age population. That is insane for a spring election. It shows that people realize these "off-year" votes actually matter more for their daily lives than the big presidential ones sometimes.
- Prepare for 2026: The next seat up for grabs is Justice Rebecca Bradley's in 2026. She’s a conservative, so if a liberal wins that one, the majority moves to 5-2. The spending will likely be even crazier next time.
The 2025 race proved that Wisconsin is still the center of the political universe. It’s a place where a local judge can take on a billionaire and win, and where the rules of the game are written one court ruling at a time.