This combination of file photos shows Brad Schimel, former Republican attorney general Brad Schimel, in Madison, Wis., Jan. 5, 2015, and Susan Crawford in June 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Manis, Susan Crawford for Wisconsin)
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) – The race to be Wisconsin’s next Supreme Court justice has been called for liberal Dane County judge Susan Crawford, who has defeated former conservative state Attorney General Brad Schimel.
According to Decision Desk HQ, Crawford soundly defeated Schimel by over 150,000 votes in a hotly contested race that saw record spending from both sides of the aisle, with several out-of-state billionaires such as George Soros, Elon Musk, and Reid Hoffman donating millions to the candidates.
High-profile cases such as the 2020 election results, the state’s legislative redistricting, and the usage of vote drop boxes have all been decided by Wisconsin’s high court in recent years. The state Supreme Court will next consider several highly anticipated cases, including one involving Act 10, which restricts the collective bargaining rights of public employees, and another involving Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion law.
WisPolitics’ J.R. Ross reported on Tuesday evening that Schimel called Crawford to concede and received pushback from some of the supporters in the crowd and responded by saying, “You gotta accept the results,” and “We will rise again. We’ll get up to fight another day. It just wasn’t our day.”
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President released a statement regarding Crawford’s win, saying, “Despite Republicans’ best efforts to buy this seat, Wisconsin voters showed up for their values and future. While Trump dismantles programs that taxpayers have earned, support, and are counting on, voters across the country are turning to state Democrats who are delivering on promises to lower costs and expand opportunities.”
Meanwhile, Wisconsin voters have voted in favor of passing the constitutional amendment that enshrines the need for voter ID to vote in the Badger State by a wide margin of over 300,000 votes. The amendment makes Wisconsin the 35th U.S. state to require voter ID to vote, joining Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, and many others.
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