‘Dangerously Liberal’ Judge Wins Wisconsin Supreme Court Race

Leftist Judge Susan Crawford won a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday, keeping the court in the control of liberal justices.

Crawford’s win comes after the most expensive judicial campaign in American history, as more than $90 million was spent on the race. Crawford defeated conservative candidate Brad Schimel, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump and backed by Trump’s top donor, Elon Musk.

With an estimated 98.1% of the vote counted on Wednesday morning, Crawford had 55% support (1,286,748 votes) compared to Schimel’s 45% (1,050,816 votes). High turnout in the Democratic strongholds of Milwaukee and Dane counties fueled Crawford’s victory. While the liberal justice won, Wisconsin voters overwhelmingly voted to add a voter ID requirement to the state constitution in a win for Republicans.

Schimel’s campaign was boosted by Musk and his America PAC, while Crawford was supported by a cadre of leftist billionaires like George Soros and Illinois Democratic Governor JB Pritzker. Before becoming a judge, Crawford worked as a lawyer for Planned Parenthood and filed lawsuits to block the state’s voter ID laws, earning her a label as “dangerously liberal” by the Wisconsin Republican Party.

Both parties saw the race as pivotal for the United States House of Representatives as Democrats are now expected to challenge Wisconsin’s congressional maps since Crawford’s victory has allowed liberal justices on the court to maintain a 4-3 majority. Leftist activists hope that the court will strike down Wisconsin’s current congressional maps and mandate election maps more favorable to Democrats.

This view was made clear in January when Crawford appeared on a fundraising call, which billed the Supreme Court race as a “chance to put two more House seats in play for 2026.” That same view was echoed earlier this month by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).

“There are gerrymandered congressional lines right now in Wisconsin,” Jeffries said. “As soon as possible, we need to be able to revisit that and have fair lines. The only way for that to be even a significant possibility is if you have an enlightened Supreme Court.”

Crawford’s victory could also determine how the court rules on issues like abortion, voter ID laws, and union reforms.

The Women Speak Out PAC, a partner of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said it was disappointed by the election results.

“Tonight’s results are disappointing and a blow for human rights and the rule of law. We mourn the lives that will be lost and the women and girls who will be harmed under a Wisconsin Supreme Court with an activist liberal majority,” said the PAC’s Political Communications Director Kelsey Pritchard. “Republican voters should heed this race as a warning on becoming complacent following the wins last November.”