Money doesn't always buy happiness, and in Madison, it apparently doesn't buy a gavel either. Not this time.
The dust has finally settled on one of the most chaotic, bank-account-draining judicial races the United States has ever seen. Susan Crawford, a Dane County judge with deep roots in Wisconsin’s legal world, is the official Wisconsin Supreme Court winner after a fight that felt more like a heavyweight title match than a nonpartisan election. She took down Brad Schimel by a margin of about 10 points—specifically 55% to 45%—in a race where the "nonpartisan" label was basically a polite suggestion that nobody followed.
Honestly, calling it a "local election" is a massive understatement.
This was a total proxy war. On one side, you had the state’s progressive base and heavy hitters like George Soros. On the other, you had the Republican establishment, Donald Trump, and Elon Musk. Musk alone threw roughly $21 million into the ring to help Schimel. He even showed up in the state to hand out million-dollar checks to voters just days before the polls opened.
It didn't work.
Why the 2025 Victory Still Matters in 2026
If you’re wondering why people are still talking about the Wisconsin Supreme Court winner months after the 2025 election, it’s because the stakes haven't changed. Crawford was sworn in on August 1, 2025. Her presence on the bench didn't just fill a seat; it cemented a 4-3 liberal majority that is expected to hold until at least 2028.
This isn't just about who sits in the fancy chairs in the Capitol. It’s about the "what." What happens to abortion access? What happens to the voting maps that decide who goes to Congress?
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For years, the court was a conservative fortress. Then, Janet Protasiewicz won in 2023, flipping the balance. Crawford’s job was to make sure that flip wasn't a fluke. By defeating Schimel—a former state Attorney General who leaned hard into his MAGA endorsement—she ensured that the court's current trajectory remains intact.
The issues on the horizon are huge. We're talking about:
- Redistricting: The potential for a complete overhaul of congressional maps that could swing the balance of power in Washington.
- Labor Rights: Challenges to Act 10, the 2011 law that stripped most public unions of their bargaining power.
- Election Integrity: Every rule about drop boxes and witness signatures usually ends up on this court's desk eventually.
The Musk Factor and the "Not for Sale" Narrative
You’ve probably heard the victory speech clips. Crawford stood on stage in Madison, surrounded by the four other liberal justices, and made a point to mention Musk. She said she never thought a girl from Chippewa Falls would be taking on the richest man in the world.
That narrative—the local judge versus the "pushy billionaire"—is what many experts think pushed her over the finish line.
Voter turnout was insane. Over 52% of the voting-age population showed up. In a spring election, that is unheard of. For comparison, the 2023 race that everyone thought was a record-breaker only saw about 39% turnout. It seems like the more money that flooded into the state, the more it actually annoyed the average Wisconsinite.
Jim Hazelton, a veteran from the area, told reporters he wasn't even going to vote until he saw Musk getting involved. He called him a "pushy billionaire" and decided to vote for Crawford just to send a message. Whether or not that represents every voter, the 1.3 million people who backed the Wisconsin Supreme Court winner certainly felt their votes were worth more than the $100 million spent on ads.
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What Crawford Brings to the Bench
Crawford isn't exactly a newcomer. She worked under former Governor Jim Doyle as his chief legal counsel. She’s been a prosecutor, a private attorney, and most recently, a circuit court judge.
During the campaign, her opponents tried to paint her as "weak on crime" or a "puppet of the radical left." They pointed to her work with Planned Parenthood and her past lawsuits against GOP-backed laws. On the flip side, Crawford leaned into those exactly. She didn't shy away from being the candidate who would protect reproductive rights.
Schimel, meanwhile, struggled to balance his "tough on crime" judge persona with his political endorsements. By the end of the race, he was wearing MAGA hats at rallies. For a state that is famously split down the middle, that move might have fired up the base, but it clearly didn't win over the suburban "WOW" counties (Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington) to the degree he needed. Even in his home turf of Waukesha, Crawford put up numbers that made a conservative path to victory nearly impossible.
The New Balance of Power (2026 and Beyond)
The court is now composed of:
- Jill Karofsky (Chief Justice, Liberal)
- Susan Crawford (Liberal)
- Janet Protasiewicz (Liberal)
- Rebecca Dallet (Liberal)
- Brian Hagedorn (Conservative, often a swing vote)
- Rebecca Bradley (Conservative)
- Annette Ziegler (Conservative)
Wait, notice anything? There are only three conservatives left.
Because terms are 10 years and only one seat is up for election each year, the math is looking grim for the right. The next big showdown is the 2026 election, where conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley is up for reelection. If a liberal wins that seat, the majority expands to 5-2. If a conservative wins, they just hold the status quo at 4-3.
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Basically, Susan Crawford's win was the "firewall" for the liberal wing. If she had lost, the court would have flipped back to a 4-3 conservative majority immediately because she was replacing retiring liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley.
Actionable Insights: What This Means for You
Whether you live in Milwaukee or are just watching from afar, the Wisconsin Supreme Court winner affects your reality more than you might think. Wisconsin is a "purple" state where the legislature and the governor are constantly at each other's throats. That makes the Supreme Court the de facto legislature.
Keep an eye on these specific developments:
- Watch the 2026 Primary: The race for Rebecca Bradley's seat is already heating up. Expect the same level of spending and national interest.
- Monitor Act 10 Litigation: If you are a public employee or teacher in Wisconsin, the court’s decision on collective bargaining will directly impact your paycheck and benefits.
- Voter Registration: Given the high turnout, making sure your registration is current for the April 2026 election is vital. These "off-year" elections are often more impactful than the big presidential years.
- Legal Precedents: If you are involved in land use, environmental law, or business litigation, Crawford’s history suggests a more regulatory-friendly approach compared to her predecessor.
The 2025 election proved that in the "Live Free or Die" spirit of the Midwest, voters don't like being told what to do by out-of-state money. Susan Crawford won because she successfully framed herself as the defense against that influence. Now, she has a decade-long term to prove she can live up to the "fair and impartial" promise she made on election night.
To stay informed on upcoming rulings, you can follow the official Wisconsin Court System's "Third Branch" news feed or check the docket for oral arguments, which are often livestreamed for the public. This transparency is the best way to see how your Wisconsin Supreme Court winner is actually voting on the bench.