Susan Crawford, a Dane County judge and outspoken abortion advocate, won a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday, defeating conservative Brad Schimel in a fiercely contested election that shattered spending records.

Crawford’s victory preserves the court’s 4-3 liberal majority, ensuring progressive influence over pivotal cases on abortion, voting rights, and redistricting. With nearly 95% of votes counted by late Tuesday, Crawford led Schimel by approximately 9 points.

A former prosecutor and private attorney, Crawford has long been a lightning rod for controversy due to her ties to Planned Parenthood, where she represented the abortion business in legal battles to expand abortion.

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Critics, including CatholicVote branded her a “radical abortion activist,” pointing to her role in challenging a 2011 Wisconsin law requiring abortionists to have hospital admitting privileges.

“Susan Crawford’s record shows she’s not just a judge, but an ideologue who will push an extreme pro-abortion agenda from the bench,” said Brian Burch, president of CatholicVote, in a statement following the election.

The pro-life group had urged voters to back Schimel, a former state attorney general and Waukesha County judge, as a defender of life and judicial restraint.

The race, which drew over $80 million in spending—the most expensive judicial contest in U.S. history—became a proxy war for national political forces.

President Donald Trump endorsed Schimel on March 28, calling him a “tough-on-crime conservative” who would “protect the will of the people.” Trump’s ally, billionaire Elon Musk, poured more than $20 million into Schimel’s campaign through affiliated groups, including cash incentives for voters who signed petitions opposing “activist judges.”

Crawford, backed by Democrats, former President Barack Obama, and liberal donors like George Soros, framed her win as a rebuke of outside influence.

Schimel, who conceded shortly after 10 p.m., told supporters in Pewaukee, “We gave it everything, but the numbers aren’t there.”

A pro-life advocate, Schimel had defended Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban in campaign statements, arguing it should remain intact unless overturned by referendum or legislative action.

Wisconsin Right to Life warned in March that Crawford’s election could “open the floodgates” to unrestricted abortion, citing her past work with Planned Parenthood.

The court Crawford joins is poised to rule on a challenge to the 1849 law, which bans nearly all abortions except to save the mother’s life. A separate case asks whether the state constitution guarantees a right to kill babies in abortion —a decision that could reshape Wisconsin’s landscape. Abortion dominated the campaign, with Crawford embracing Planned Parenthood’s support while Schimel’s allies accused her of seeking to dismantle pro-life protections.

Turnout soared past 2.4 million, nearly 40% higher than the 2023 Supreme Court race, reflecting the election’s stakes. Democrats hailed the result as a sign of resilience against Trump and Musk’s influence, while conservatives lamented a missed chance to flip the court.

“This could cost Republicans the U.S. House if redistricting goes her way,” said a LifeNews commentary posted late Tuesday.

Crawford will replace retiring Justice Ann Walsh Bradley in August, serving a 10-year term. Her win locks in liberal control until at least 2028, amplifying her potential impact on Wisconsin’s legal and political future.

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