Overview and Live Results: Wisconsin Supreme Court Election

Several high profile races highlight a busy Tuesday on the election calendar. The most important of these - with results in this article - will determine the ideological lean of the Wisconsin Supreme Court for at least the next year. Two U.S. House vacancies in Florida will also be filled. One of these has become unexpectedly competitive.

Florida Congressional Special Elections >

There is also a primary for Omaha mayor and several legislative special elections. 

Wisconsin

In addition to the Supreme Court seat, Wisconsin voters will elect a State Education Superintendent and weigh in on a proposed constitutional amendment around voter ID. 

Polls close at 9:00 PM Eastern Time.

Wisconsin Supreme Court 

Tuesday's marquee contest is one of the more consequential elections of the year. Wisconsin voters will send a new justice to the State Supreme Court for a ten-year term.

Incumbent Ann Walsh Bradley is retiring. Bradley is the most senior justice on the Court, having been elected in 1995. The election features two Circuit Court judges: Susan Crawford (Dane County) and Brad Schimel (Waukesha County).

While the justices - and the election - are nonpartisan, the ideological balance of the court is very much on the ballot. Absent Bradley, who is liberal, the court is split 3-3. A Crawford win would retain the court's liberal lean, while a win by the more conservative Schimel would tip the Court to the right.

Before the Court are numerous cases covering issues that run down the political fault lines. These include abortion, voting rules, congressional district boundaries, and unions.

This will easily be the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history, with spending expected to reach $100 million. The previous record of $51 million was set in the Supreme Court election here in 2023.

Billionaires have gotten heavily involved in the race. George Soros, long a boogeyman of the right has given about $2 million. Elon Musk, who is proving similarly useful to energize those on the left, leads all donors with about $19 million spent either directly or via PACs that he funds. 

Polling has been limited, but has largely shown Crawford with a small lead. The two most recent published surveys, from Atlas Intel and Trafalgar Group, had Crawford ahead by 7% and 2%, respectively.

Wisconsin State Superintendent

The superintendent oversees public schools and education policy in the state. It is structured as a powerful role in Wisconsin in that there is no separate state board of education.

Incumbent Jill Underly is seeking a second four year term. She and Brittany Kinser advanced from the February nonpartisan primary. 

Underly is a strong supporter of public schools, and has the backing of teachers unions. Kinser is an advocate of vouchers and charter schools. Given that positioning, it shouldn't be surprising that Underly is backed by Democrats, while Kinser is supported by the GOP. 

While funding for this race is just a fraction of that flowing to the Supreme Court election, both political parties have made significant investments.

Wisconsin Proposed Constitutional Amendment

If passed, the proposal would enshrine a photo ID requirement for voting in the state constitution.

Wisconsin is one of nine states that already mandates a photo ID to vote so the outcome* won't have any immediate practical impact. However, by adding it to the constitution, proponents are hoping to make it more difficult for the requirement to be changed in the future.

*It also means that only people that already have a photo ID will decide whether this amendment passes.

Upcoming Scheduled Elections

• April 8
  • St. Louis Mayor
• May 3
  • Texas Mayors: San Antonio, Forth Worth, Plano, Garland 
• May 6
  • Ohio Mayors (Primary): Cincinnati and Toledo
• May 20
  • Pittsburgh Mayor (Primary)
• June 10
  • New Jersey Gubernatorial Primary
• June 17
  • Virginia Gubernatorial Primary
• June 24
  • New York City Mayor Primary

Upcoming Special Elections

• April 15
  • Massachusetts State House District 6th Essex (Primary)
    • General Election May 13
  • Mississippi State Senate District 18
  • Oakland Mayor
• April 22
  • Mississippi State House Districts 23 and 82 (Runoffs)
• May 3
  • Louisiana State House District 67 (Primary)
    • Top-Two General Election June 7 (if needed)
• May 6
  • New Hampshire State House District Strafford 12 (Primary)
    • General Election June 24
• May 13
  • Alabama State House District 11
    • Runoff (if needed) June 10; General Election August 26
  • Massachusetts State House District 3rd Bristol (Primary)
  • Oklahoma State Senate District 8