If you were anywhere near a television in the Midwest last spring, you probably remember the deluge of ads. It was inescapable. Well, the dust has finally settled on the Wisconsin Supreme Court election 2025 results, and the outcome has basically cemented the state's judicial path for the next few years.
Honestly, it wasn't even that close in the end.
Susan Crawford, the Dane County judge backed by liberals, pulled off a decisive victory over Brad Schimel on April 1, 2025. She cleared him by about 10 points. To be exact, Crawford pulled in 1,301,137 votes (55.02%) compared to Schimel’s 1,062,330 (44.92%).
It’s a big deal. Huge. This wasn't just about one robe; it was about the ideological soul of a court that’s been leaning 4-3 liberal since Janet Protasiewicz shook things up back in 2023. By winning this seat—vacated by the retiring liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley—Crawford didn't just win a job; she protected a majority that won't be challenged again until at least 2028.
Why the Wisconsin Supreme Court election 2025 results mattered so much
People kept calling this a "proxy war," and for once, the pundits weren't exaggerating. You had Elon Musk literally flying into the state two days before the vote, handing out million-dollar checks to random voters like he was playing a high-stakes game of Monopoly. On the other side, you had big names like Barack Obama and massive infusions of cash from donors like George Soros and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.
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It felt less like a local judicial race and more like a national cage match.
The stakes?
- Abortion access: Wisconsin’s 1849 law has been a legal lightning rod, and this court will likely decide its fate once and for all.
- Redistricting: There’s a constant battle over the state’s congressional maps.
- Union rights: Crawford made a name for herself fighting for collective bargaining, and those issues are heading back to the high court.
The "Musk Effect" backfired
The weirdest part of the whole thing was the involvement of Elon Musk. He spent over $21 million through various groups to back Schimel. But if you look at the post-election analysis from groups like Split Ticket, it sorta seems like Musk’s involvement actually ticked people off more than it helped.
Voters who showed up were generally more aligned with the Democratic platform than they were in the 2024 presidential cycle. Basically, the conservative "blitzkrieg" (as some local papers called it) acted like a giant alarm clock for liberal voters. They woke up, got mad, and went to the polls.
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Breaking down the map: Where Crawford won
Crawford didn't just win; she dominated the population centers. It’s the classic "blue islands in a red sea" map we see in Wisconsin, but the islands were bigger this time.
- Dane County: As expected, it was a blowout. Crawford took over 75% of the vote here.
- Milwaukee County: She pulled over 80% in the city and surrounding areas.
- The "WOW" Counties: This is where Schimel needed to crush it to have a chance. While he won Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington counties, his margins weren't nearly enough to offset the urban surge.
- Brown and Eau Claire: These "swing" areas went for Crawford. When Brown County (Green Bay) goes for a liberal judicial candidate by 3 points, the conservative path to victory essentially vanishes.
A record-breaking turnout
We're used to spring elections being sleepy affairs. Not this one. Turnout exceeded 52% of the voting-age population. That’s insane for an April election. For context, the previous record set in 2023 was only about 40%.
People are paying attention to the court now because they realize it’s where the "real" law gets made in Wisconsin when the legislature is in a stalemate with the governor.
What happens next?
Susan Crawford was sworn in on August 1, 2025. She’s now sitting on that bench for a 10-year term.
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Because of the way the terms are staggered, the next time a liberal justice is up for election isn't until April 2028. This means the 4-3 liberal majority is effectively "bulletproof" for the next three years. They have the green light to take up cases on everything from voting drop boxes to the legality of Act 10.
Schimel, to his credit, was a class act on election night. Despite some of his supporters shouting "cheater," he told them flat out: "No. You've got to accept the results." He then went and played bass with his rock cover band, which is a pretty Wisconsin way to end a campaign.
Actionable insights for the next cycle
If you're following Wisconsin politics, keep these points in your back pocket:
- Watch the 2026 Superintendent Race: It’s the next statewide non-partisan test, and while it's not a court seat, the money patterns usually follow the same trail.
- Monitor the Docket: The court is expected to rule on major redistricting cases before the 2026 midterms. If those maps change, the entire balance of the state legislature could shift.
- Local Judicial Races: Pay attention to your county circuit court seats. Both Crawford and Schimel started there. These "lower" courts are the farm system for the Supreme Court.
Stay updated on the court's upcoming oral arguments by checking the official Wisconsin Court System website, as their decisions over the next 24 months will likely reshape state law for a generation.