The April 1 Wisconsin Supreme Court election is being called the most important race of 2025, with far-reaching consequences for both the battleground state and the nation. Early voting is ongoing through March 30, and the race features Trump-backed Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge and former Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel against Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford, a liberal candidate endorsed by pro-abortion groups like EMILY’s List.
The election follows the 2023 race in which liberal Janet Protasiewicz defeated conservative Dan Kelly, flipping the court to a 4-3 liberal majority. With the retirement of liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, conservatives now have an opportunity to regain control. Democrats, however, see the election as a means to push their policy agenda and redraw legislative maps, potentially flipping two U.S. House seats and strengthening their position in Congress.
An email invitation obtained by Breitbart News for a January 13 Democrat donor briefing openly framed the race as a chance to put two additional House seats in play for 2026. Left-wing billionaire Reid Hoffman, allegedly a past visitor to Jeffrey Epstein’s island, helped organize the event. Hoffman and other major donors have heavily funded Crawford’s campaign.
Schimel warned that Democrats aim to use the court to gerrymander legislative maps, affecting congressional representation and limiting President Trump’s ability to implement his policies if reelected. He also criticized what he sees as an activist court, comparing it to an umpire wearing a jersey for one team. Judicial races in Wisconsin are officially nonpartisan, but both political parties are heavily invested, as justices serve ten-year terms, and the next opportunity to shift the court’s balance will not come until 2028.
Abortion is a major issue in the race. Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion law was put on hold in 2023 and is expected to be reviewed by the state Supreme Court later this year. Schimel emphasized the distinction between judicial conservatism, which he defines as applying the law without personal bias, and judicial activism, which he argues Crawford represents. Crawford, in an interview with The New York Times, stated that the government should not regulate abortion and framed the issue as a matter of personal autonomy.
Schimel has been endorsed by more than 80 Wisconsin sheriffs and various law enforcement groups, emphasizing his background in public safety. He contrasted his experience as a prosecutor, district attorney, and attorney general with Crawford’s record of representing left-wing organizations like Planned Parenthood, the Madison Teachers Association, and the League of Women Voters.
The race has shattered records for spending on a judicial contest, surpassing $81 million—far exceeding the $56 million spent in the 2023 election. Recent polling shows a tight race, with Crawford leading by five points, slightly outside the survey’s four-point margin of error. However, early voting data suggests a 37% increase in turnout in conservative counties compared to 2023, possibly favoring Schimel.
Wisconsin remains a crucial swing state, having narrowly voted for Trump in 2016 and 2024, while going for Biden in 2020. Wisconsin GOP Chairman Brian Schimming stated that if just 60% of Trump voters support Schimel, he will secure victory in the Supreme Court race.
