Musk’s Money Can't Buy Justice: Progressive Triumph in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court Race

A Landmark Liberal Victory

In a fiercely contested race that captured national attention, Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford has secured a 10-year term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, ensuring that the progressive majority remains intact on the state’s highest court. The race, widely regarded as the first major battleground state contest of President Trump’s second term, emerged as the most expensive state Supreme Court election in U.S. history.

Crawford, who was backed by Democratic groups, edged out her opponent Brad Schimel—a Waukesha County Circuit Judge and former Republican attorney general. Her victory reinforces the liberal 4–3 advantage on the court, a balance that is critical as the court prepares to review cases with implications for abortion rights, unions, collective bargaining, and congressional redistricting.

Battling Billionaire Influence

The campaign was defined by the extraordinary financial and personal involvement of billionaire Elon Musk, who poured millions into efforts to unseat Crawford. Musk’s extensive spending and high-profile visits to Wisconsin, coupled with frequent posts on his X feed, drew sharp criticism from progressive activists. At multiple campaign events, Crawford’s team used Musk as a symbol of wealthy interference in judicial processes.

During a rally, Crawford passionately remarked, “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 in Wisconsin,” adding, “And we won.” These remarks encapsulated the campaign’s narrative that the election was not just about a judicial seat but a stand against the disproportionate influence of billionaire money in politics. Meanwhile, Schimel, who embraced former President Trump in the final days of the race, conceded with a brief statement: “I knew I had to put my all in,” but that “you gotta accept the results.”

The Broader Implications

Crawford’s win has far-reaching implications for Wisconsin’s legal and political landscape. With a liberal majority, the court is poised to rule on key issues such as the state’s 1849 abortion ban, which is already under legal challenge. Abortion providers resumed the procedure in 2023 after a lower court decision, and a separate case has been initiated by Planned Parenthood to establish whether the state constitution protects abortion rights. For details on this case, see this report.

The progressive majority is also expected to influence rulings on landmark legislation from the era of Republican Gov. Scott Walker, specifically regarding the elimination of collective bargaining rights for most public workers under Act 10. Additionally, with the court’s prior decision to overturn gerrymandered legislative maps—a ruling detailed here—there is a keen interest in how the court might approach future challenges to congressional maps and redistricting practices.

Additional Ballot Measures and Future Races

The high-stakes judicial contest was only part of a broader slate of pivotal decisions on the Wisconsin ballot. In the nominally nonpartisan race for school superintendent, incumbent Jill Underly, supported by the state Democratic Party, defeated Brittany Kinser, the candidate favored by conservative groups. This race, influenced by similar debates over federal government downsizing, has taken on added significance following President Trump’s executive order targeting the U.S. Education Department.

Moreover, Wisconsin voters approved an amendment to enshrine an existing voter ID law into the state constitution, a measure intended to fortify the law against future challenges. For more on the debate surrounding this move, see this analysis. Conservatives argue that embedding the law into the constitution will make it more challenging to strike down, while progressives view the measure as part of a broader strategy to safeguard electoral integrity in the state.

Crawford’s win, along with these additional ballot measures, signals a reaffirmation of progressive values in Wisconsin. As the state heads into a period of potentially transformative judicial rulings and policy debates, the outcome of this election underscores a commitment to counterbalancing the influence of billionaire money and reinforcing the rights of working families and marginalized communities.

With a clear liberal mandate established in this election cycle, political observers expect that the strategies deployed here—such as emphasizing the role of wealth and corporate influence—may serve as a blueprint for progressive campaigns in upcoming midterm elections and beyond.