Wisconsin Supreme Court Election – Crawford Wins 2025 Race
Wisconsin voters elected Susan Crawford to the state Supreme Court on April 1, 2025, delivering a decisive victory that preserved the court’s 4-3 liberal majority in the most expensive judicial race in United States history. Crawford, a Dane County Circuit Court judge, defeated Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel by more than 10 percentage points in an election that drew intense national attention and more than $100 million in total spending.
The contest emerged as a proxy battle over the future direction of Wisconsin’s highest court, with both major parties investing heavily and outside groups pouring millions into advertising and voter outreach efforts. The race centered on several high-stakes legal issues likely to come before the court in the coming years, including congressional redistricting, abortion access, and labor rights.
Crawford received 1,301,137 votes, representing 55.02 percent of the total, while Schimel garnered 1,062,330 votes for 44.92 percent. Total turnout reached 2,364,887 voters. Schimel conceded the race on election night, and Crawford was sworn in on August 1, 2025, for a 10-year term.
Who Are the Candidates in the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court Election?
The race featured two sitting circuit court judges with markedly different backgrounds and legal philosophies. The election filled the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, who served 30 years on the court and consistently aligned with its liberal wing.
Susan Crawford’s Background
Susan Crawford has served as a Dane County Circuit Court judge since 2018, handling civil and criminal matters in Wisconsin’s most populous county outside Milwaukee. She was identified throughout the campaign as the liberal candidate in the race, receiving the endorsement of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Her judicial record includes rulings on local government matters, civil disputes, and criminal cases typical of an urban circuit court docket.
Brad Schimel’s Experience
Brad Schimel brings extensive public sector experience to his candidacy, having served as Wisconsin’s Attorney General from 2015 to 2019 before joining the Waukesha County Circuit Court in 2019. As Attorney General, he represented the state in significant litigation involving healthcare, elections, and federal-state disputes. He was characterized during the campaign as the conservative alternative, backed by the Republican Party of Wisconsin and aligned with interests supporting traditional judicial approaches.
Key Facts About the Race
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Open Seat | Ann Walsh Bradley retiring after 30 years |
| Term Length | 10 years |
| Primary Election | Canceled (only two candidates filed) |
| Voter Turnout | 2,364,887 total votes cast |
| Crawford Vote Share | 55.02% (1,301,137 votes) |
| Schimel Vote Share | 44.92% (1,062,330 votes) |
| Margin of Victory | 238,807 votes |
| Swearing-In Date | August 1, 2025 |
Because only Crawford and Schimel filed candidacy paperwork by the January 2025 deadline, Wisconsin law canceled the originally scheduled February 18 primary. This decision meant both candidates entered a lengthy preparation period without direct primary competition, proceeding directly to the April general election.
When Is the Election and How Can You Vote?
The general election took place on April 1, 2025, as Wisconsin’s scheduled spring general election. While the date may suggest otherwise, April 1 was the official statewide election day for all local and judicial races across Wisconsin that cycle.
Voting Procedures and Logistics
Wisconsin’s spring elections follow standard state voting procedures. Registered voters could cast ballots at their designated polling places between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on election day. Those unable to vote in person had access to absentee voting options, including mail-in ballots and early in-person voting at municipal clerks’ offices in the weeks leading up to April 1.
The election was officially classified as nonpartisan, as Wisconsin Supreme Court races technically carry no party labels on the ballot. However, both major political parties made their preferences clear, with the Democratic Party endorsing Crawford and the Republican Party backing Schimel. This tension between the formal nonpartisan structure and the de facto partisan nature of modern supreme court elections became a notable feature of campaign discourse.
Campaign Spending Context
The 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race shattered records for judicial elections nationwide. Total spending surpassed $100 million, a figure that exceeded previous high marks set in other expensive state supreme court contests. The influx of spending transformed what had traditionally been a lower-profile judicial race into one of the most closely watched elections of the year.
Elon Musk’s involvement particularly drew national coverage. Groups associated with Musk—Building America’s Future and America PAC—contributed over $20–25 million in support of Schimel. These efforts included a controversial $100 payment program offering compensation to voters who signed petitions opposing what organizers called “activist judges.” Two participants in the petition drive ultimately received $1 million awards through a separate promotional drawing, a fact that generated additional media scrutiny during the campaign.
What Are the Key Stakes and Issues?
The 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election carried substantial implications for the direction of state law. With the court evenly divided at 3-3 pending the outcome, the winner would determine the ideological balance for a decade. Legal analysts noted that multiple consequential cases were waiting for resolution, making the race unusually impactful for ordinary Wisconsin residents.
Redistricting and Congressional Maps
Perhaps the most pressing issue on the court’s horizon involved congressional redistricting. Wisconsin’s electoral maps, which were drawn by Republican legislators following the 2020 census, faced ongoing legal challenges. The existing maps had been repeatedly contested in court, with opponents arguing they unfairly diluted Democratic voting power in violation of state law. The court’s composition would likely determine whether new maps were adopted before the 2026 elections.
Abortion Access
Abortion rights remained a significant issue in the campaign. While Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban had been technically unenforceable since a 2023 court ruling, the legal status of reproductive rights in the state remained unsettled. Future cases could clarify whether additional protections existed under state constitutional provisions, or whether the legislature might attempt to revive restrictions. Voters in other states had shown strong support for abortion-access candidates in recent elections, a dynamic that both campaigns attempted to navigate.
Labor Rights and Public Safety
The court was also expected to address cases involving public employee unions, collective bargaining agreements, and workplace safety regulations. Public sector unions had fought multiple legal battles in Wisconsin over the past decade, and additional challenges were anticipated. Education funding formulas, affordable housing policies, healthcare access, and mental health resources also appeared on the list of issues likely to reach the court.
Crawford’s victory maintained rather than changed the court’s existing 4-3 liberal majority. The liberal bloc had secured its advantage just two years earlier, when Janet Protasiewicz won a seat in the April 2023 election against conservative Daniel Kelly. By preserving that majority, Crawford’s win ensured that the court’s current trajectory would continue for at least three more years, given the standard 10-year terms and rotation schedule.
Latest Results and Historical Context
The 2025 election results reflected a clear mandate for Crawford, who outperformed expectations in traditionally conservative parts of the state. While Dane and Milwaukee counties provided her base of support, she also made inroads in suburban and swing counties that had supported Republican candidates in recent state races.
Interpreting the Vote Margins
The 10-point margin translated to approximately 238,807 votes separating the two candidates. This represented a comfortable lead that news organizations called within hours of polls closing, though Schimel did not officially concede until later in the evening. The result suggested that despite the massive conservative spending advantage, voter mobilization efforts by labor unions, progressive groups, and Democratic Party organizations successfully countered outside financial influence.
The 2023 Election Connection
The 2025 race built directly on the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election, which had flipped the court from conservative to liberal control. In that contest, liberal candidate Janet Protasiewicz defeated conservative Daniel Kelly, giving the court’s liberal wing a one-seat majority for the first time in 15 years. The 2025 election ensured that majority would continue, preventing the conservatives from reclaiming the tie-breaking seat that the retiring Justice Bradley had held.
No pre-election public polls with detailed candidate head-to-head numbers were published in the available research materials. While private polling by both campaigns likely existed, the absence of independent public surveys meant that outside observers entered election day without verified data on the state of the race. This gap made the actual margin particularly notable as the first concrete measurement of voter preferences.
How Did the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court Election Unfold?
The path to the April 1 general election involved several key milestones over the preceding two years. Understanding the chronology helps contextualize how the race developed from a routine judicial retirement into a nationally significant contest.
- April 2023 — Janet Protasiewicz defeats Daniel Kelly in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, flipping the court to a 4-3 liberal majority.
- July 2024 — Justice Ann Walsh Bradley announces her retirement, effective before the 2025 election cycle, triggering the vacancy.
- January 2025 — Candidate filing deadline passes with only two candidates—Crawford and Schimel—submitting paperwork.
- February 2025 — Primary election canceled by law; both candidates proceed directly to the general election.
- March 2025 — Intensive campaign period with both parties and outside groups ramping up advertising and get-out-the-vote operations.
- April 1, 2025 — General election held; Crawford defeats Schimel with 55.02 percent to 44.92 percent.
- April 2025 — Schimel concedes the race following the result.
- August 1, 2025 — Crawford sworn in to begin her 10-year term.
What Is Known and What Remains Unclear Following the Election?
The election produced definitive results on several fronts while leaving some questions open for future examination. A balanced assessment requires acknowledging both what the evidence clearly establishes and what remains uncertain.
| Established Information | Remaining Uncertainties |
|---|---|
| Crawford won with 55.02% of the vote | Detailed breakdown by county or demographic group |
| Total spending exceeded $100 million | Precise allocation between advertising, operations, and other categories |
| Musk-linked groups spent $20–25 million for Schimel | Full extent of coordination between campaign and outside groups |
| Court majority preserved at 4-3 liberal | How Crawford will rule on specific cases before the court |
| Schimel conceded following the result | Whether post-election litigation or challenges will emerge |
| Election was nonpartisan on paper | Impact of party coordination on voter perceptions of judicial independence |
Why Does This Election Matter Beyond Wisconsin?
The Wisconsin Supreme Court race attracted coverage from national outlets precisely because it represented a broader test of political influence in swing states. The involvement of Elon Musk and affiliates of former President Donald Trump signaled that major conservative figures viewed control of state supreme courts as crucial to advancing policy goals through litigation rather than legislation.
Wisconsin’s status as a perennial battleground state amplified the significance of every statewide contest. The court’s decisions on redistricting could directly affect the partisan composition of Congress, with implications for federal policy debates. Similarly, any ruling on abortion, labor rights, or election administration would ripple beyond state borders in a country where similar legal questions divided other jurisdictions.
The outcome also served as a referendum on the effectiveness of massive outside spending in judicial elections. Despite unprecedented conservative investment, progressive and Democratic-aligned groups managed to mobilize sufficient voter support to secure victory. Researchers studying money in politics noted that the result challenged assumptions about the determinative power of financial advantages in high-profile races.
Crawford’s win solidified liberal control for at least three more years, rebuking conservative spending efforts including those of Musk and Trump’s allies.
— PBS Wisconsin, reporting on election results
What Sources and Reactions Shaped the Race?
Multiple credible sources provided coverage and analysis throughout the campaign. The Brennan Center for Justice documented the historic spending levels and the involvement of outside groups, noting that Wisconsin’s race exceeded all previous judicial elections in total cost. News outlets including The 19th and Wisconsin Public Broadcasting provided real-time coverage of results and campaign developments.
Political organizations on both sides issued statements following the election. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin claimed victory as a vindication of grassroots organizing, while the Republican Party of Wisconsin pointed to turnout in rural counties as evidence of continued support for conservative judicial philosophy. Neither party disputed the accuracy of the vote count.
Academic experts on state courts observed that the election demonstrated the continued transformation of judicial races into high-stakes political competitions. Previously routine contests for open seats now attracted millions in advertising and intensive candidate scrutiny, raising questions about the independence and legitimacy of state supreme courts.
Looking Ahead After the Wisconsin Supreme Court Election
With Crawford seated and the court’s composition settled for the near term, attention will shift to the cases awaiting decision. Redistricting challenges, abortion-related litigation, and public sector labor disputes all require resolution, and the liberal majority now has the votes to act decisively on those matters.
The 2025 result also sets the stage for future elections. Conservatives will seek opportunities to reclaim the majority when current liberal justices face retirement or term limits. The lessons learned from this race—about voter mobilization, outside spending, and the limits of financial dominance—will inform both parties’ strategies going forward.
For Wisconsin voters, the practical stakes remain grounded in everyday concerns. Education funding, healthcare access, public safety, and the fairness of electoral maps are not abstract legal questions but issues that directly affect families and communities across the state. The court’s rulings on those matters will shape the lives of Wisconsinites for years to come.
For broader context on electoral outcomes in 2025, see our report on Janet Protasiewicz Wins 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court Race.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election about?
The election filled the vacancy created by Justice Ann Walsh Bradley’s retirement after 30 years. The winner would serve a 10-year term and maintain or shift the court’s existing 4-3 liberal majority.
How much money was spent on the race?
Total spending exceeded $100 million, making it the most expensive judicial race in United States history.
Did Elon Musk support a candidate?
Yes. Musk-linked groups Building America’s Future and America PAC spent over $20–25 million supporting Brad Schimel, including a $100 payment program for petition signers.
Who is Susan Crawford?
Susan Crawford is a Dane County Circuit Court judge who has served since 2018. She was the liberal candidate in the race, endorsed by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
Who is Brad Schimel?
Brad Schimel is a Waukesha County Circuit Court judge who served as Wisconsin’s Attorney General from 2015 to 2019. He was the conservative candidate, backed by the Republican Party of Wisconsin.
What key issues were at stake in the election?
Issues included congressional redistricting, abortion access, labor rights, education funding, healthcare, affordable housing, public safety, and illegal guns.
How did this election affect the court’s balance?
Crawford’s victory preserved the 4-3 liberal majority that had been established in the 2023 election. The court balance did not shift.
When was the last Wisconsin Supreme Court election before this one?
The previous election was in April 2023, when Janet Protasiewicz defeated Daniel Kelly to flip the court to liberal control for the first time in 15 years.
Was there a primary election?
No. The primary was canceled because only two candidates filed, meaning both proceeded directly to the April 1 general election.
What happened after the election?
Schimel conceded the race following the result. Crawford was sworn in on August 1, 2025, to begin her 10-year term.
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