Susan Crawford scored an extraordinary win in her primary campaign for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. She defeated former Republican attorney general Brad Schimel in a fiercely fought race. That boondoggle ballot measure on April 2, 2024, generated national discussion and heated discourse. The measure was then widely interpreted as a referendum on the popularity of such high-profile, controversial figures as Elon Musk and Donald Trump. Crawford’s victory has been heralded as one of the biggest Democrat victories. It does promise to upend state politics in deeply significant ways.
That fight ballooned into the most expensive judicial race in American history, with more than $80 million spent combined. Crucially, Musk and right-wing organizations and funders aligned with Musk poured over $20 million into Schimel’s campaign to raise the profile of Schimel’s campaign. The event represents an enormous GOP defeat. They had intended to continue their stranglehold on the state’s highest court.
Turnout for the primary election was historic, with many polling places in Milwaukee experiencing staff shortages and schools chosen as polling places running out of ballots. As the votes rolled in, Crawford was ahead of Schimel by almost 10 percentage points, as more than 84% of the votes were counted. Later that night after the results were announced, Schimel called Crawford to concede the race before going to speak in front of supporters.
Crawford’s campaign emphasized defending democracy and standing up against what she called an extraordinary assault on it. In her extraordinary victory speech, she told voters she was grateful for their astounding support. She continued on to stress the strong message their votes sent.
“Today Wisconsinites fended off an unprecedented attack on our democracy.” – Susan Crawford
The election was widely viewed as a test case for Musk’s political strategy, which he aims to replicate across the country. Musk himself had warned that the court’s decision might “determine the future of America and western civilization.” Even beyond his specific campaign, his entry into the race forced all attention to the interaction between corporate influence and electoral politics.
The consequences of this election reach beyond the short-term victory itself, especially when it comes to the power to redraw House districts. Republicans are right to be concerned about what an unchecked Democratic majority would do to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. They are concerned that it could redraw the lines of legislative majorities in subsequent elections.
During the campaign, Schimel admitted that he understood the bind he was in. As he unabashedly wrote, “The numbers aren’t gonna change, They’re too ugly, and you’re not going to run away with this.” His concession is telling, echoing the desperate worry among Republican political operatives about the changing political tides in Wisconsin and all across this country.
The real contest was a stark contrast between the candidates’ positions on every important issue. Musk’s expenditures were primarily aimed at consolidating conservative judicial philosophies. Crawford’s message resounded with voters who valued democratic integrity and judicial independence.
The odd election will be an important bellwether for how people are feeling about these disruptive figures like Musk and Trump. Following his defeat, Schimel’s supporters grappled with the implications of losing a race that many believed would solidify their hold on Wisconsin’s judiciary.
This is not the first time Musk has taken issue with what he considers judicial corruption associated with the woke left. He remarked, “The long con of the left is corruption of the judiciary,” reflecting his perspective on the broader political struggle at play.
Crawford’s victory will be sure to encourage Democrats and could signal a change in strategy with implications for elections to come. Political analysts will be keenly observing how this surprising outcome affects voter motivation and party unity in Wisconsin and around the country.