Democratic-backed judge Susan Crawford has secured a decisive victory in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, defeating Trump-endorsed candidate Brad Schimel in a high-stakes contest that shattered spending records. The race, which saw unprecedented involvement from tech billionaire Elon Musk, is now the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history.
Crawford’s win preserves the court’s liberal majority until at least 2028, dealing a major blow to Republicans who had hoped to shift the ideological balance in the key battleground state.
A Billionaire’s Influence and a Fierce Battle
Musk, a former Trump administration figure, and his affiliated groups poured more than $21 million (€19.45 million) into the race, backing Schimel. His influence became a defining issue of the campaign, with Crawford and Democrats portraying the election as a referendum on whether Wisconsin’s judiciary could be “bought.”
In a victory speech Tuesday night, Crawford took direct aim at Musk’s involvement.
“Growing up in Chippewa Falls, I never could have imagined that I would be taking on the richest man in the world for justice in Wisconsin,” she said. “And we won.”
She added:
“Today, Wisconsinites fended off an unprecedented attack on our democracy, our fair elections, and our Supreme Court. And Wisconsin stood up and said loudly that justice does not have a price. Our courts are not for sale.”
Schimel conceded after projections showed Crawford had an unassailable lead, though some of his supporters expressed skepticism about the results.
“No,” Schimel told the crowd when some accused Democrats of cheating. “You’ve got to accept the results.”
Implications for Congress and Trump’s Agenda
The stakes of the race extended beyond Wisconsin’s judiciary, with potential consequences for federal politics. The Wisconsin Supreme Court is likely to rule on congressional redistricting cases, which could determine whether Republicans maintain their 6-2 advantage in the state’s U.S. House seats.
Despite Wisconsin’s razor-thin presidential vote margins, Republicans have retained an electoral edge due to district maps drawn in their favor. If the court orders new maps, Trump allies fear it could threaten the GOP’s fragile control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Recognizing the significance of the race, Trump called it a “big deal,” urging supporters to back Schimel. Meanwhile, Democrats framed the election as a rebuke of Musk’s political spending, leveraging the billionaire’s controversial tactics to mobilize voters.
A Record-Breaking Election
With nearly $99 million (€91.7 million) spent, the Wisconsin Supreme Court race became the most expensive judicial contest in U.S. history, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
Turnout surpassed 52% of the voting-age population, a dramatic increase from the previous record of 40% set in 2023—a testament to the high-profile nature of the race.
Musk, who directly campaigned for Schimel, faced scrutiny after offering two $1 million (€0.93 million) checks to voters ahead of the election—a move that critics claimed violated Wisconsin election laws. Following legal concerns, Musk was forced to delete certain posts on X (formerly Twitter), where he had implied financial incentives for those supporting Schimel.
On the Democratic side, former vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz traveled from Minnesota to campaign for Crawford, whose campaign was financially backed by liberal donors, including billionaire George Soros.
Looking Ahead
With Crawford’s 10-year term secured, Wisconsin’s Supreme Court is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the state’s electoral maps, voting rights laws, and potentially federal election disputes heading into 2028.
Her victory also underscores the growing nationalization of state judicial elections, with outside groups and high-profile figures spending record sums to influence the courts.
As Wisconsin remains a critical swing state, Crawford’s election could have lasting ramifications—not just for the state, but for the balance of power in Washington.
