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Summary
Susan Crawford has emerged victorious in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, representing a significant defeat for Donald Trump and Elon Musk despite their extensive efforts to sway the election. A seasoned civil rights attorney and judge, Susan has built her career defending union rights, voting access, and reproductive freedoms—issues that are expected to come before the court in the near future
Liberal judge Susan Crawford has won the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, defeating Trump-backed conservative Brad Schimel in a high-stakes race that attracted national attention. Her victory ensures the court maintains its liberal majority and marks a significant political setback for President Donald Trump.
Despite Trump’s campaigning and substantial financial backing from billionaire Elon Musk, Wisconsin voters rejected Brad Schimel, signalling resistance to the former president’s influence in key battleground states.
Susan Crawford is a circuit court judge in Dane County who has built her career defending workers’ rights, reproductive freedom, and voting access. Before joining the bench, she worked as a civil rights attorney, playing a pivotal role in legal battles against Republican-backed policies restricting union power and voter access.
One of her most notable cases involved representing public school teachers in their challenge to Act 10, a law that curtailed collective bargaining rights for most public employees. The case, which remains a flashpoint in Wisconsin politics, is now expected to reach the state’s highest court—where Susan will now help decide its fate.
Her victory maintains a liberal tilt on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which will play a decisive role in upcoming cases related to election laws, gerrymandering, and abortion rights.
Prior to the elections, Trump had personally championed Schimel, calling him a “Patriot” and attacking Crawford as a “Radical Left Liberal” who would “destroy” Wisconsin’s judiciary. On social media, he falsely accused her of leniency toward violent criminals, hoping to sway conservative voters.
Billionaire Elon Musk also waded into the race, pouring millions into Schimel’s campaign through his America PAC. He personally travelled to Wisconsin, describing the election as crucial to the “fate of Western civilisation.” In an unusual move, he even offered financial incentives to voters willing to sign a petition against “activist judges,” distributing checks worth thousands of dollars.
Despite these efforts, Susan’s victory proved that Wisconsin voters were not swayed by Trump’s influence or Musk’s.
