In the recent Wisconsin Supreme Court election, Republicans had a clear strategy: secure more than 60 percent of President Trump’s voters to support Judge Brad Schimel, the conservative candidate. Achieving this target would enable them to reclaim the court’s majority and shift its ideological balance back to the right.
Judge Schimel successfully met the Republican benchmark by garnering 62 percent of Trump’s November total votes in Wisconsin. Notably, he outperformed Justice Janet Protasiewicz, who had previously won the court in 2023 by a significant margin, defeating the conservative candidate by 11 points. This marked the last major judicial race in which Democrats had mobilized national attention and resources.
Despite Schimel's impressive showing, Republicans faced a formidable challenge from liberal candidate Susan Crawford. She achieved an extraordinary 78 percent of Vice President Kamala Harris’s vote total in Wisconsin, a remarkable feat for a spring election during an off year. This overwhelming support for Crawford effectively undermined the goals set forth by the GOP.
The election results reflected a significant defeat for Republicans across the state. Judge Crawford’s share of the Harris vote surpassed Judge Schimel’s share of the Trump vote in all 72 counties of Wisconsin. This outcome not only highlighted the strength of Democratic voter turnout but also suggested a shift in the political landscape, complicating future electoral strategies for the Republican Party in the state.
