Susan Crawford, a Democrat-backed candidate, has defeated conservative judge Brad Schimel in a historic and closely watched race for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, despite a $21 million campaign boost from Tesla CEO Elon Musk and support from former President Donald Trump.
Crawford’s win preserves the court’s 4–3 liberal majority, a major victory for Democrats as the court prepares to decide critical cases on abortion rights, labor laws, and redistricting in the 2024 and 2028 elections.
Susan Crawford defeated Brad Schimel, who told his supporters they must accept the result Credit: Scott Olson/Getty
“Growing up in Chippewa Falls, I never imagined I’d be facing the richest man in the world for justice in Wisconsin — and we won,” Crawford said in her victory speech. “Wisconsin stood up and said loud and clear: justice does not have a price. Our courts are not for sale.”
Wisconsin’s Supreme Court plays a pivotal role in interpreting state laws and deciding high-profile cases. With Wisconsin a key battleground state, the court’s ideological makeup could influence future presidential elections and congressional redistricting.
Had Schimel won, conservatives would have flipped control of the court, potentially altering rulings on contentious issues like reproductive freedom, union rights, and election laws.
The Musk-Trump Alliance and Its Failure
Supporters of Susan Crawford, the judge backed by the Democrats, celebrate in Wisconsin on Tuesday Credit: Vincent Alban/Reuters
The election shattered spending records, with over $80 million spent on the race — $21 million of it from Musk and his allies, making it the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history.
Musk, who called the race a fight for “the future of Western civilization,” funded aggressive get-out-the-vote efforts that included $100 incentives for signing Republican petitions and reported $1 million checks offered to voters in Wisconsin.
Trump, though not officially on the ballot, was widely seen as the ideological force behind Schimel’s candidacy. The defeat dealt a symbolic blow to Trump’s ongoing efforts to reshape America’s judiciary ahead of the 2024 election.
“There’s a huge problem with activists that are actually politicians in judges’ robes,” Musk told Fox News before the election.
Historic Turnout, Strong Democratic Momentum
Officials in Milwaukee reported a historic voter turnout, with seven polling stations temporarily running out of ballots due to the surge. Analysts say the surge was driven by backlash against attempts to politicize the judiciary and restrict voting rights.
In a post-election poll conducted by Marquette University Law School, 61% of respondents said the influence of money in judicial races was “very concerning,” with 54% saying Musk’s donation negatively affected their view of Schimel’s candidacy.
In a separate race in Florida’s 6th congressional district, Republican Randy Fine defeated Democratic newcomer Josh Weil, but by a margin of just 14 points — a sharp drop from the 30-point lead enjoyed by GOP predecessor Mike Waltz in 2020.
Weil, a public school teacher, raised over $12 million in grassroots donations, signaling increasing Democratic energy in deep-red districts.
The Trump administration has intensified its criticism of the judiciary, with Vice President J.D. Vance recently arguing that judges should not be able to block presidential policies — remarks that legal scholars warn could endanger judicial independence.
“If a judge tried to command the attorney general, that’s illegal,” Vance said. “Judges shouldn’t control executive power.”
A recent Reuters report found an increase in threats against judges across the country, with 11 judges confirming heightened security risks.
Crawford’s win maintains a liberal firewall in Wisconsin’s judiciary and sends a national signal about the limits of billionaire influence, the resilience of grassroots democracy, and voter skepticism of politicized courts.
With the 2024 election cycle approaching, this race may prove a bellwether for American political dynamics: a clash of wealth, ideology, and civic action.
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