“Alright, Wisconsin, we did it!,” declared Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice-elect Susan Crawford.

Crawford’s election night event in Madison turned into a victory party a lot earlier in the evening than anyone expected.

As the polls closed at 8 p.m., supporters were preparing for a long night and were caught off guard as national political observers started calling the election for Crawford, a circuit court judge in Dane County and the liberal candidate in the race.

Soon enough, retiring Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley came to the stage to announce Crawford had won her seat on the court.

“Justice-elect — the future of the Wisconsin Supreme Court — Susan Crawford!” announced Walsh Bradley.

Crawford took the stage with the rest of the liberal justices, showing this election was not just about one seat but also securing a liberal majority on the state’s high court for at least the next three years.

“Today, Wisconsinites fended off an unprecedented attack on our democracy,” Crawford said. “Our fair elections and our Supreme Court and Wisconsin stood up and said loudly that justice does not have a price. Our courts are not for sale!”

Crawford’s conservative challenger Brad Schimel, a circuit court judge in Waukesha County and a Republica former state attorney general, spoke to supporters at his election night event in Pewaukee.

“The numbers aren’t going to turn around. They’re too bad, and we’re not going to pull this off,” he said.

Schimel had planned for his band to play a much longer setlist, but had to cut it off early to tell his supporters it was over.

“Yeah, I’ve called Judge Crawford and conceded, ” Schimel said.

“No, no. No. No, no, no, no,” he said, responding to shouts from his supporters. “You got to accept the results.”

In its closing weeks, the race had spiraled beyond the typical Wisconsin Supreme Court election.

With $100 million in spending, the race became nationalized and Wisconsin voters were being asked to elect a justice and deliver a referendum on President Donald Trump, all while Elon Musk wore a cheesehead and handed out $1 million dollar checks.

“I never could have imagined that I’d be taking on the richest man in the world for justice in Wisconsin,” Crawford said in her victory speech. “And we won”

Musk’s spending certainly boosted conservative turnout, but it also boosted liberal turnout.

I think a lot of it has to do with Brad Schimel and with him kind-of being with Elon Musk and the whole backed up by billionaires thing,” said Ana Wilson, a Crawford supporter. “I think that a lot of people were like, ‘Elon Musk doesn’t deserve to be in Wisconsin politics.'”

With the majority secured, liberal advocates are expected to push cases that would overturn Act 10 and redraw the lines for Wisconsin’s congressional delegation.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Wisconsin Supreme Court to deliver fair and impartial decisions,” Crawford said.

Not all her colleagues are ready to welcome her with open arms. Justice Rebecca Bradley is the most outspoken of the conservative minority, and is up for reelection in the state’s April 2026 election.

“I think with Judge Crawford’s win, we’re going to see a continued politicization of the judiciary,” Bradley said about the 2025 vote. “Unfortunately over the last couple of terms, my four liberal colleagues have ruled uniformly with the Democratic Party, which is why you saw all this money come in.”

Crawford will take the bench in August to start her 10-year term.

“Together we will confront and overcome the challenges we face, as our state’s motto says — everybody — Forward!,” she declared. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Wisconsin. I am forever grateful.”