MADISON, Wisc. – In a significant electoral outcome, County Judge Susan Crawford has secured her position on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as announced by the Associated Press. Crawford's victory came against challenger Brad Schimel, who notably received substantial financial backing from billionaire Elon Musk and an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. With this win, the nonpartisan court retains a 4-3 liberal majority, a pivotal aspect of Wisconsin's judicial landscape.
This election has been characterized as the most expensive state supreme court race in history, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, a prominent think tank focused on democracy advocacy. Reports indicate that total spending by the candidates and their supporters surpassed a staggering $100 million. Such financial investment highlights the contentious nature of this election cycle, driven by national implications and the potential influence of Trump-aligned figures.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court will be tasked with addressing critical issues such as abortion rights, labor unions, and possibly redistricting. A significant aspect of the court's upcoming agenda will involve deliberating whether a pre-Civil War ban on abortion overrides the state law permitting abortions up to approximately 20 weeks of pregnancy. Additionally, a landmark case regarding a 2011 law that restricts collective bargaining for public employees is set to be examined.
Elon Musk's involvement further intensified the race; he suggested that the court could play a vital role in redrawing voting districts, which could potentially jeopardize the Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. Musk, alongside aligned groups, contributed around $20 million to support Schimel. He also encouraged public engagement by offering $100 to individuals who signed a petition opposing activist judges and notably awarded $1 million each to two attendees at a rally.
Susan Crawford's journey has roots in reproductive rights and voting rights, having worked as a private attorney on cases involving organizations like Planned Parenthood and labor unions, and challenging Wisconsin's voter ID law. A product of northwestern Wisconsin, Crawford began her career alongside former Democratic Governor Jim Doyle, first as assistant attorney general and then as general counsel. In 2018, she was elected as a circuit court judge in Dane County, the home of Madison.
In contrast, Brad Schimel is a former Republican state attorney general and a Waukesha County judge who has supported the voter ID law and asserted the validity of the old abortion law, advocating that such matters should reflect the will of the people. Throughout the campaign, Crawford and her supporters sought to portray Schimel as an extension of the Trump administration, while presenting herself as a more balanced jurist with a commendable history on women's issues.
Crawford received substantial backing from the Wisconsin Democratic Party, which contributed at least $10 million to her campaign. She also garnered support from national megadonors, including Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, George Soros, and the Schusterman family. Noteworthy endorsements came from former President Barack Obama, various labor unions, Planned Parenthood, and EMILYs List, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that advocates for abortion rights candidates.
Conversely, Schimel attracted significant financial support from conservative backers, including the owners of UIline packaging company, Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein, and their Fair Courts America PAC. He also received at least $9 million from the Wisconsin GOP. Throughout the campaign, both candidates refrained from committing to recusal from cases involving their respective state parties or prominent donors, each attempting to label the other as excessively beholden to financial influences, despite state laws allowing judges considerable discretion regarding recusal decisions.
