Down ballot races rarely make national news. But the race for Wisconsin’s Supreme Court between Susan Crawford and Brad Schimel is drawing national attention because of its direct impact on control of Congress.
April 1st, Wisconsin voters will elect to a 10-year term either Crawford, a Dane County Circuit Judge backed by the state’s Democratic Party or former Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel. The incumbent Justice Ann Walsh Bradley is retiring, prompting a contentious race.
Court races are officially nonpartisan, but liberal justices currently control the court with a 4-3 majority. Should Schimel win, the court would flip to a 4-3 conservative majority.
The outcome of the race could be important to both Republicans and Democrats, and individuals like Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Musk has a stake due to the Wisconsin law currently prohibiting the sale of Tesla in the state. Tesla is suing to break the state automotive cartel block on Tesla dealerships and the case is pending in the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
Meanwhile, Democrats view Crawford’s election as their path to overthrowing Wisconsin’s congressional district maps and redrawing the lines to favor Democratic candidates.
“The only way for that to be even a significant possibility is if you have an enlightened Supreme Court,” said House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The liberal-majority Court has previously rejected a 2024 lawsuit by Democrats seeking new Congressional maps.
The Republican Party may see a possible loss of two Congressional seats should Democrats be allowed to redistrict next year.
With less than a week until the election, early voting has surged with 48% more early votes cast compared to the 2023 Supreme Court race, and money has poured in to support both candidates.
Schimel has raised over $12 million while Crawford has raised $25 million, $5.5 million of which came from the Democrat party and another $1 million from George Soros.
On the other hand, Musk has already awarded $1 million to one Wisconsinite who signed a pledge opposing “activist judges.” Another $1 million will be announced Friday.
Including outside spending, the campaign has become the most expensive Supreme Court race in history with more than $81 million spent, according to The Brennan Center for Justice.
Polling currently shows the race a dead-heat.
