2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election

Last updated

2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election
Flag of Wisconsin.svg
  2023 April 1, 20252026 
  2015
  3x4.svg Brad Schimel (cropped).jpg
Candidate Susan Crawford Brad Schimel

Incumbent Justice

Ann Walsh Bradley



The 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election will be held on April 1, 2025, to elect a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court for a ten-year term. The incumbent justice, Ann Walsh Bradley, is retiring after 30 years on the court. Although the Wisconsin Supreme Court justices are considered nonpartisan, Bradley has identified as a liberal and has voted with the liberal 4–3 majority on the court, meaning the outcome of this election will decide the ideological majority of the court for at least the next year. [1]

Contents

Candidates

Although Wisconsin Supreme Court elections are officially nonpartisan, media outlets have identified Susan Crawford as the liberal, Democratic-aligned candidate, and Brad Schimel as the conservative, Republican-aligned candidate. [2] [3]

Declared

Withdrawn

Declined

General election

Endorsements

Susan Crawford

U.S. executive branch officials

U.S. senators

U.S. representatives

Judicial officials

Individuals

Labor unions

Newspapers

Organizations

Political parties

Brad Schimel

U.S. senators

U.S. representatives

Judicial officials

Individuals

Labor unions

Organizations

Political parties

Debate

2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election debates
No.DateHostModeratorLinkCandidates
 P Participant   A Absent   N Non-invitee   I Invitee W  Withdrawn
CrawfordSchimel
1 [58] March 12, 2025 WISN-TV TBDTBDII

Polling

PollsterDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [e]
Margin
of error
Susan
Crawford
Brad
Schimel
Undecided
TIPP Insights (R) [59] [A] February 7–11, 20251,045 (RV)± 3.1%38%38%24% [f]
634 (LV)± 4.0%43%45%12%
RMG Research (R) [60] [B] January 17–21, 2025800 (RV)± 3.5%35%40%23%

Results

2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election
CandidateVotes %
Susan Crawford
Brad Schimel
Write-in
Total votes100.00

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Described by media outlets as liberal [7]
  2. Described by media outlets as conservative [5]
  3. Described by media outlets as conservative [10]
  4. Described by media outlets as conservative [12]
  5. Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  6. "Unlikely to vote" with 3%

Partisan clients

  1. Poll sponsored by League of American Workers
  2. Poll commissioned by the conservative Institute for Reforming Government.

References

  1. 1 2 "Justice Ann Walsh Bradley won't seek reelection in '25, when liberal majority will be on the line". WisPolitics.com . April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Candidates set for another high-profile Wisconsin Supreme Court race". Superior Telegram. January 8, 2025. Archived from the original on January 12, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  3. Kremer, Rich (January 9, 2025). "Crawford, Schimel both report 'historic' donations in state Supreme Court race". Wisconsin Public Radio . Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  4. Opoien, Jessie (June 10, 2024). "Dane County judge Susan Crawford launches Wisconsin Supreme Court bid". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Schimel launches '25 bid for state Supreme Court". Wispolitics.com . November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Johnson, Shawn (June 17, 2024). "All 4 liberal justices back Crawford's Wisconsin Supreme Court campaign". Wisconsin Public Radio . Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  7. "THU PM Update: Three liberals looking at run for Supreme Court following Bradley retirement". Wispolitics.com . April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  8. "FRI REPORT: Colón decides against state Supreme Court bid". Wispolitics.com. April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 "Crawford campaign: More than 100 judges and court commissioners endorse Judge Susan Crawford for Wisconsin Supreme Court". Susan Crawford for Wisconsin Supreme Court (Press release). June 24, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024 via WisPolitics.
  10. Epstein, Reid (March 15, 2023). "In Wisconsin, Liberals Barrage Conservative Court Candidate With Attack Ads". The New York Times . Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  11. Nir, David (April 12, 2024). "Why progressives have to worry about a top-two lockout in Wisconsin's Supreme Court race". Daily Kos . Retrieved April 12, 2024. Former Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly...informs WisPolitics he has 'absolutely no intention of running whatsoever.'
  12. Bahl, Andrew (April 11, 2024). "Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley won't run again". The Capital Times . Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  13. 1 2 Nir, David; Singer, Jeff. "Morning Digest: Democratic heavyweight steps up to challenge Nevada's GOP governor". The Downballot. Retrieved December 13, 2024. Court of Appeals Judge Maria Lazar, a conservative who had been considering a bid for an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, announced this week that she would not run and was instead endorsing...Brad Schimel.
  14. Jones, Kyle (April 18, 2024). "Judge Chris Taylor opts not to run to replace outgoing Justice Walsh Bradley". WISC-TV . Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  15. 1 2 "Eric Holder Endorses Judge Susan Crawford for Wisconsin Supreme Court". NDRC (Press release). January 27, 2025. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  16. "Crawford campaign: U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin endorses Judge Susan Crawford for Wisconsin Supreme Court". Susan Crawford for Wisconsin Supreme Court (Press release). Retrieved January 17, 2025 via WisPolitics.
  17. "Preach Gwen Moore for Congress!". Facebook. March 2, 2025. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  18. "Crawford campaign: Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler endorsement". Susan Crawford for Wisconsin Supreme Court (Press release). Retrieved July 3, 2024 via WisPolitics.
  19. Williams, Brad (February 11, 2025). "Former police officer from D.C. endorses Crawford for Supreme Court during stop in La Crosse". WIZM . Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  20. "New DNC chair Ken Martin visits Wisconsin, calls Supreme Court, DPI races first big test". February 22, 2025 via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  21. 1 2 "Reproductive Freedom for All Endorses Susan Crawford for Wisconsin State Supreme Court". Reproductive Freedom for All (Press release). February 7, 2025. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  22. 1 2 "WisDems: Endorses Judge Susan Crawford for Wisconsin Supreme Court". Wisconsin Democratic Party (Press release). November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024 via WisPolitics.
  23. "With the election for Wisconsin's State Supreme Court approaching (April 1st, 2025), the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998 is hereby endorsing Judge Susan Crawford for the next Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice". Facebook. February 12, 2025. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  24. "AFSCME Endorses Judge Susan Crawford for WI Supreme Court". AFSCME Wisconsin. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  25. "Spring 2025 Elections" (Press release). January 17, 2025. Retrieved February 10, 2025 via AFT-Wisconsin.
  26. "Crawford campaign: IBEW Wisconsin State Conference endorses Judge Susan Crawford for Wisconsin Supreme Court". January 16, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025 via WisPolitics.
  27. "2025 Spring Election". madisonteachers.org. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  28. "Crawford campaign: North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters endorses Judge Susan Crawford for Wisconsin Supreme Court". February 10, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2025 via WisPolitics.
  29. "Today, we proudly endorse Susan Crawford for the upcoming State Supreme Court election this spring". Facebook. February 5, 2025. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  30. "UAW Region 4 State CAP voted to endorse Susan Crawford in the April 1st election". Facebook. February 8, 2025. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  31. "Crawford campaign: Wisconsin AFL-CIO endorses Judge Susan Crawford for Wisconsin Supreme Court". January 31, 2025. Retrieved February 3, 2025 via WisPolitics.
  32. "News Release: WEAC Recommends Judge Susan Crawford for Supreme Court". WEAC (Press release). November 27, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  33. "Crawford campaign: Endorsed by Wisconsin Laborers District Council" (Press release). November 26, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2025 via WisPolitics.
  34. "Endorsements for the April Wisconsin Election". The Shepherd Express . February 27, 2025. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  35. "350 Wisconsin Action: Endorses Susan Crawford for Wisconsin Supreme Court". 350 Wisconsin Action (Press release). Retrieved February 20, 2025 via WisPolitics.
  36. "Citizen Action has endorsed Susan Crawford for Wisconsin in the pivotal election for control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court". Instagram. January 21, 2025. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  37. 1 2 3 "Endorse Judge Susan Crawford for Wisconsin Supreme Court". Young Democrats, College Democrats, and High School Democrats of Wisconsin (Press release). Retrieved February 24, 2025 via WisPolitics.
  38. "EMILYs List Endorses Judge Susan Crawford for Wisconsin State Supreme Court". EMILYs List (Press release). January 9, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  39. "Indivisible Endorses Susan Crawford in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race". Indivisible (Press release). January 4, 2025. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  40. Soifer, Halie (February 26, 2025). "First Endorsement of 2025". Jewish Democratic Council of America. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  41. "The Wisconsin Social Workers Political Action Committee endorses Judge Susan Crawford to serve as a Justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court". Facebook. February 9, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  42. "Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin: Endorses Judge Susan Crawford" (Press release). February 3, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025 via WisPolitics.
  43. "We are writing postcards to voters for the April 1 WI Supreme Court election!". Instagram. February 16, 2025. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  44. Swing Left [@swingleft] (February 24, 2025). "Want to fight back against Elon Musk? Help us block his attempt to buy the Wisconsin Supreme Court by knocking doors, making calls into the state, or volunteering to support @crawfordforwi!" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  45. "Susan Crawford for WI Supreme Court April 1st". Third Act (Press release). February 11, 2025. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  46. "The 2025 Spring Election". Wisconsin Conservation Voters (Press release). January 30, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  47. Sen. Ron Johnson talks about US Senate candidate Hovde. WHSV-TV . July 16, 2024. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  48. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gunn, Erik (January 28, 2025). "GOP members of Congress line up behind Schimel in high court race". Wisconsin Examiner . Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  49. Karnopp, Hope (February 9, 2025). "Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel welcomes a hypothetical endorsement from Donald Trump". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  50. "Schimel campaign: Judge Brad Schimel earns endorsement of the Milwaukee Police Association". Brad Schimel for Wisconsin Supreme Court (Press release). April 17, 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2024 via WisPolitics.
  51. Kleiber, Anna (April 24, 2024). "Schimel campaign: Earns endorsement of the Milwaukee Professional Firefighters Association" . Retrieved January 26, 2025 via WisPolitics.
  52. "Schimel campaign: Law enforcement's choice for the Wisconsin Supreme Court". January 21, 2025. Retrieved January 26, 2025 via WisPolitics.
  53. "Schimel campaign: Americans for Prosperity Wisconsin endorses Judge Brad Schimel". Brad Schimel for Wisconsin Supreme Court (Press release). November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024 via WisPolitics.
  54. House Freedom Action [@HFreedomAction] (February 26, 2025). "80 Sheriffs have endorsed Brad Schimel. Only ONE has endorsed Susan Crawford - a pro-illegal alien sanctuary sheriff from Dane County backing a pro-illegal alien sanctuary judge from Dane County. STOP Susan Crawford. Vote April 1" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  55. "National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund: Endorses Brad Schimel for election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court". Brad Schimel for Wisconsin Supreme Court (Press release). February 13, 2025. Retrieved February 14, 2025 via WisPolitics.
  56. "Wisconsin REALTORS® Association endorses Judge Brad Schimel". Schimel campaign (Press release). February 25, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025 via WisPolitics.
  57. "WIYR Endorsed Candidates For April 1st (2025) General Election". Wisconsin Young Republicans. February 14, 2025. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  58. "WISN Wisconsin Supreme Court debate at Lubar Center, March 12". Marquette Today. February 18, 2025. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  59. Cortes, Steve (February 18, 2025). "POLL: Heartland Voters Embrace Trump's Early Actions". American Greatness. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  60. Ross, JR (January 30, 2025). "IRG poll finds slight edge for Schimel in Supreme Court race, though many voters undecided". WisPolitics . Retrieved January 31, 2025.
Official campaign websites