In a high-stakes and historic election, Wisconsin voters on Tuesday elected Susan Crawford to the state Supreme Court, preserving the court’s 4-3 liberal majority. The victory dealt a significant blow to former President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, who had supported Crawford’s conservative opponent, Brad Schimel.
The election, described by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University as an early referendum on Trump’s political influence, became the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history. Over $90 million was spent by candidates, state parties, and outside groups.
With 75% of the vote counted, Crawford held a commanding lead of 55% to 45%, a margin of approximately 178,000 votes. Schimel, a former Republican state attorney general and county judge, conceded both in a phone call to Crawford and in an address to his supporters.
Financial backing played a central role in the campaign, with Musk and affiliated political groups pouring more than $21 million into Schimel’s bid. Despite the formidable financial support, Crawford framed the race as a battle against the influence of out-of-state billionaires.
“I’ve got to tell you, as a little girl growing up in Chippewa Falls, I never could have imagined that I’d be taking on the richest man in the world for justice and Wisconsin. And we won,” Crawford said in her victory speech.
Crawford’s win secures the liberal majority on the court, signaling a significant setback for conservative forces and solidifying her role as a key figure in Wisconsin’s judicial landscape.
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