Latest news with #DaneCountyCircuitCourt
CNN
07-04-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Florida, Wisconsin election results live
In the first major election night of 2025, a liberal judge won a critical Supreme Court race in the swing state of Wisconsin, and Republicans won two special Congressional elections in Florida. Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford won an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court to maintain the court's 4-3 liberal majority. Crawford easily won the non-partisan race, despite Trump's narrow 2024 victory in the state. Voters also approved a ballot measure to enshrine the state's voter ID requirement in the state constitution and reelected the state's Superintendent of Public Instruction. Republicans expanded their thin margin in the House by winning two special elections in Florida. Two other seats, both last held by Democrats, are currently vacant: one in Texas and one in Arizona. Republicans won two special Congressional elections in Florida, which were held to replace former GOP Reps. Michael Waltz and Matt Gaetz. While Waltz and Gaetz both won by more than 30 percentage points in November, the special election results were considerably closer. Source: Results data via The Associated Press; Projections by CNN
Washington Post
02-04-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Musk's defeat in Wisconsin is a flashing warning for Republicans in 2026
Elon Musk spent $25 million to buy an election in Wisconsin, and all he got was a cheesehead hat. A surprisingly easy, double-digit victory of Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford, the liberal candidate in Tuesday's pivotal state Supreme Court race, was driven in large part by voter revulsion at Musk's premise that democracy is for sale. The outcome of the most expensive court race in U.S. history — topping $100 million when spending by all sides was counted — was also a warning sign to Republicans of what lies ahead in 2026.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Dems say Wisconsin voters 'decisively' rejected Trump, Musk after liberal wins state Supreme Court seat
Democrats across the country celebrated after the liberal-leaning candidate won a high-profile election on Tuesday for a seat on Wisconsin's Supreme Court, protecting the liberal majority on the bench. Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford defeated conservative-leaning Brad Schimel, a former state attorney general who currently serves as a state circuit court judge in Waukesha County. Schimel was endorsed by President Donald Trump, and the president's billionaire senior advisor, Elon Musk, spent millions of dollars to oppose Crawford's candidacy. After a massive infusion of money from Democrat-aligned and Republican-aligned groups from outside Wisconsin, which turned the race into the most expensive judicial election in the nation's history, the election partially transformed into a referendum on Trump's action during the early months of his second term in the White House. Following Crawford's victory, Democrats said voters in Wisconsin, a battleground state, sent a clear message to reject Trump, Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency — which is led by Musk — as well as the Republican Party's agenda. Liberal Wins First Major 2025 Statewide Battleground Election In Race Turned Into Trump-musk Referendum Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers wrote: "Wisconsinites proved we will not be bought — not by the richest or most powerful people in the world or anyone else." Read On The Fox News App Musk had handed out $1 million checks at a rally in Green Bay on Sunday evening to two Wisconsin voters who had already cast ballots in the contest and had signed a petition to stop "activist judges." Wisconsin's Democrat state attorney general sued to block the payments, but the state Supreme Court refused to weigh in. "This election was about the resilience of the Wisconsin and American values that define and unite us," Wisconsin's governor said in a statement. "This election was about doing what's best for our kids, protecting constitutional checks and balances, reaffirming our faith in the courts and the judiciary, and defending against attacks on the basic rights, freedoms, and institutions we hold dear." "For anyone who mistakenly believes actions and decisions in Washington are neither seen nor heard here in Wisconsin or states across our country, the people of Wisconsin responded tonight," he added. Sen. Tammy Balwin, D-Wisc., said Wisconsin voters "showed tonight that their votes are not for sale!" Wisconsin Voters Decide To Enshrine Voter Id Law In State Constitution: 'Big Win For Republicans' "Judge Crawford is a common sense judge who has always been guided by the same basic values she learned growing up in Chippewa Falls," Baldwin said on X. "She believes in doing the right thing, she has fought to protect our rights and freedoms, and she will be a fair and impartial Justice on the WI State Supreme Court!" Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said that "[a]nyone who counted Democrats out was dead wrong." "Wisconsin voters tonight sent a decisive message to Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and DOGE by rejecting an extreme Republican for their Supreme Court: our Democracy is not for sale," he said in a statement. "Democrats are in the fight to keep our country." "Elon Musk spent millions in a failed scheme to buy a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., wrote on X. "Voters decisively rejected Donald Trump, Musk and the rapidly deteriorating Republican brand. Back up off the American people." Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., wrote on X: "Congratulations to Wisconsin's newest Supreme Court Justice, Susan Crawford! The voters spoke loud and clear: Wisconsin is not for sale." "Wisconsin beat the billionaire," Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said on X, referring to Musk. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Crawford's victory was an "amazing win for Wisconsin and the entire country." Wisconsin's high court is likely to rule on crucial issues like congressional redistricting, voting and labor rights and abortion. Fox News' Paul Steinhauser and Charles Creitz contributed to this article source: Dems say Wisconsin voters 'decisively' rejected Trump, Musk after liberal wins state Supreme Court seat
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Liberal wins first major 2025 statewide battleground election in race turned into Trump-Musk referendum
PAWAUKEE, Wis. — The liberal-leaning candidate won a high-profile and historically expensive election in Wisconsin on Tuesday, protecting progressive majority control of the battleground state's Supreme Court, which is likely to rule on crucial issues like congressional redistricting, voting and labor rights, and abortion. Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford defeated Brad Schimel, a former state attorney general who currently serves as a state circuit court judge in Waukesha County. Schimel, the conservative-aligned candidate in the race, was endorsed by President Donald Trump. With a massive infusion of money from Democrat-aligned and Republican-aligned groups from outside Wisconsin, which turned the race into the most expensive judicial election in the nation's history, the contest partially transformed into a referendum on Trump's sweeping and controversial moves during the opening months of his second tour of duty in the White House. Also front and center in the electoral showdown was someone who, along with Trump, was not on the ballot: billionaire Elon Musk, the president's top donor and White House adviser. Republicans Sweeep Special Elections In Florida, To Hold Onto Two Gop-held Congressional Seats "I never could have imagined that I'd be taking on the richest man in the world, for justice in Wisconsin. And we won," Crawford said in her victory speech, in her home base of Madison, Wisconsin. Read On The Fox News App And pushing back against her critics, Crawford said "my promise to Wisconsin is clear. I will be a fair, impartial, and commonsense justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court." Schimel conceded minutes after the Associated Press called the race, telling supporters in suburban Milwuakee that he had spoke to Crawford and that "the numbers aren't going to turn around and we're not going to pull this off." "We'll get up to fight another day. But this wasn't our day," he added. Musk, the chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX, who has taken a buzz saw to the federal government workforce as he steers Trump's recently created Department of Government Efficiency, dished out roughly $20 million in the Wisconsin race through aligned groups in support of Schimel. And Musk, in a controversial move, handed out $1 million checks at a rally in Green Bay on Sunday evening to two Wisconsin voters who had already cast ballots in the contest and had signed a petition to stop "activist judges." Why Elon Musk Handed Out Million Dollar Checks In Wisconsin Wisconsin's Democrat state attorney general sued to block the payments, but the state Supreme Court refused to weigh in. Calling the election a "super big deal," Musk said it was critical to the Trump agenda. "I think this will be important for the future of civilization," he said. "It's that significant." Musk wasn't the only mega-donor on the right playing in the Wisconsin showdown. Shipping magnates Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein, who are among the biggest conservative contributors in the nation, also provided millions in support of Schimel and the Wisconsin GOP. "If you told me six months ago this was what was going to happen, I would not have believed it. But yeah … some parts of this are way beyond my control anymore," Schimel said in a Fox News Digital interview during a bus tour stop Monday just outside Green Bay. Schimel, who launched his bid 16 months ago, added that "other people can treat this how they want. If they think they want to make it a referendum on the president or Elon Musk, so be it." "This is a referendum on Wisconsin," he said. "Can we restore objectivity to the Wisconsin Supreme Court?" Big-money Wi High Court Race Will Have National Effects, As Redistricting, Unions, Trans Issues At Stake Schimel also leaned in to the endorsement from Trump. A TV ad running in the closing stretch of the race spotlighted that voting for Schimel would protect Trump's agenda. The candidate also wore a "Make America Great Again" hat at some campaign stops during the final weekend ahead of the election. Schimel spotlighted his final blitz to reach out to voters. "We are doing six to eight rallies every single day in cities across the state," he said. "People are turning out in huge numbers, and we've got other surrogates going out around the state where we're not, doing the exact same thing. It's absolutely about getting those voters out." And Schimel also got a boost from the conservative powerhouse organization Americans for Prosperity. The group said its grassroots army has connected with nearly 600,000 voters in Wisconsin since last November's election. Trump, who narrowly carried Wisconsin in both of his White House victories, said the state is important because its Supreme Court can settle disputes over election outcomes. "Wisconsin's a big state politically, and the Supreme Court has a lot to do with elections in Wisconsin," the president said Monday at the White House. "Winning Wisconsin's a big deal, so, therefore, the Supreme Court choice … it's a big race." Schimel's camp and other conservatives repeatedly argued that a continuation of the liberal majority on Wisconsin's high court could lead to unfavorable congressional redistricting in the state, which could spell doom for two Republican lawmakers: Reps. Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil, chair of the House Administration Committee. Trump, Obama, Weigh In On High Court Showdown In Key Battleground Asked about the conservatives shining a spotlight on potential congressional redistricting, Crawford told reporters on Monday that "it's just not appropriate for me as a judge to express a view on that, especially on an issue that someday could come before the Wisconsin Supreme Court again. That's why I don't speak to the issue." Tuesday's election was the first statewide contest held since Trump returned to the White House, and it was an opportunity for plenty of voters to vent against the president and his policies. Crawford enjoyed a surge in fundraising, thanks in part to an energized base eager to resist Trump and Republicans. "People are really motivated and want to make sure that we protect the Wisconsin Supreme Court," Crawford said in a Fox News Digital interview after a rally in Madison on the eve of the election. Battleground State Showdown: Democrats Target Elon Musk Crawford argued that voters "don't want to see some outsider, some billionaire, come in and try to buy a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which is what Elon Musk is trying to do." At her rally, Crawford said "this election is going to determine all of our fundamental rights and freedoms." But Crawford also benefited from outside money, with roughly $2 million infused into the race by left-leaning financier George Soros, long a boogeyman of the right. Billionaire progressive Gov. JB Pritzker of neighboring Illinois has also spent big bucks in the race to support Crawford. "I have gotten some generous contributions, and we've raised a lot of money in this race," she told Fox News. "But just to put that in perspective, in the last two months, Elon Musk has spent more than we have raised over the 10 months of this entire campaign, so his spending dwarfs that of any individual in any state supreme court ever and certainly one in Wisconsin." Crawford and Schimel were battling to succeed liberal-leaning justice Ann Walsh Bradley, who has served on Wisconsin's highest court for nearly three decades. Liberal-aligned justices held a 4-3 majority on the state Supreme Court heading into Tuesday's election. The showdown drew some top surrogates to Wisconsin, including progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and MAGA star Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son. The Democratic National Committee, in a statement following Crawford's victory, took aim at Musk. "Make no mistake: Americans don't want Elon Musk running their federal government and they don't want him buying their local elections," the DNC article source: Liberal wins first major 2025 statewide battleground election in race turned into Trump-Musk referendum
Boston Globe
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Who is Susan Crawford? Wisconsin Supreme Court winner has fought for union and abortion rights.
Crawford, 60, has served as a Dane County Circuit Court judge since 2018. She won election to the seat that year and again in 2022 in the county, which is home to the liberal state capital, Madison. Crawford previously worked as an assistant attorney general for both the Iowa and Wisconsin departments of justice and as an attorney in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. In 2009, she joined Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle's staff as his legal counsel. After Doyle left office in 2011, Crawford joined a liberal Madison law firm that filed numerous lawsuits challenging Republican-enacted laws. Advertisement In that role she represented Planned Parenthood in a pair of cases challenging limitations to abortion. She also spoke against the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade. Two cases challenging an 1849 Wisconsin abortion ban law are pending before the state Supreme Court. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up She represented unions in a landmark case Crawford represented public teacher unions in a case challenging a GOP law that effectively ended collective bargaining for teachers and most other public workers. That law, known as Act 10, was the centerpiece of Republican former Gov. Scott Walker's tenure and made Wisconsin the center of the national debate over union rights. Last year a Dane County judge struck down most of the statute as unconstitutional, and an appeal is expected to reach the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Advertisement Crawford also fought a Republican-written law requiring voters to show photo ID at the polls. She grew up in Chippewa Falls and graduated from Lawrence University in Appleton in 1987 and the University of Iowa College of Law in 1994. Crawford lives in Madison and is married with two children. She referred to her opponent as 'Elon Schimel' Crawford was on the ballot against Brad Schimel, but she in ways saw his backer, Musk, as her opponent in the contest, which became the most expensive court race on record in the U.S. During a recent debate, Crawford repeatedly invoked Musk, going as far as to refer to her actual foe as 'Elon Schimel.' The state Democratic Party branded the race 'The People v. Musk' and hosted a series of anti-Musk town halls, including one featuring former vice presidential candidate Tim Walz. At her victory party, joined on stage by other women serving as judges in the state — including retiring Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, whom she is replacing on the high court — Crawford accepted her win by saying: 'I never thought I would be taking on the richest man in the world for justice. And we won.'
