Battle for the control of Wisconsin Supreme Court resumes

Conservatives in Wisconsin caught a huge break when liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley announced that she would not be running for a 10th term.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court flipped ideologies in the last election, which was a crushing blow to conservatives.

If they manage to take the seat back, they can return the favor in the upcoming election, which will be a huge measuring stick for the aftermath of the 2024 election.

Taking Back the Court

When conservative Justice Patience Roggensack retired, the state's most expensive Supreme Court election was set for 2023.

Janet Protasiewicz defeated Daniel Kelly, who handed control of the court over to liberals for the first time in 15 years.

This race will be very much the same, as donors on both sides of the aisle have already lined up to fill the campaign coffers with the control of the court back up for grabs.

This time, Susan Crawford is on the liberal side, while Brad Schimel represents the conservatives.

Crawford has already raised over $7 million, $1 million of which came from George Soros.

Schimel has raised about $5 million so far, lining up the big names of the GOP mega-donors, such as Elizabeth Uihlein and Joe Rickets.

Not surprisingly, Democrats are going to lean into abortion rights, especially since Schimel's name is on some key rulings that remain in place today on this front.

Crawford stated, “I’m proud of my record fighting for our fundamental rights and freedoms. It’s very concerning when politicians like Schimel undermine the deeply personal decisions that men and women make every day about how to live their lives and what’s best for them and their families."

Regarding abortion rights, Schimel stated, “I cherish all life,” and “I can’t imagine making the deep and personal decision that a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy has to make.

“But a judge’s job is to apply the law, not make the law. The people of Wisconsin, through referendum or their elected representatives, should decide the question of abortion. As the next Supreme Court Justice, I will respect the will of the people."

In 2023, the win by Protasiewicz was largely tied to the fallout from Roe v. Wade, but abortion failed Democrats in the 2024 race.

Trump's first 30 days in office have been a whirlwind, and while his approval rating soared above 50% early, it has since dipped back down to about 47%. Point being, this election is likely to be more about Donald Trump and his agenda than a single issue.

Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Brian Schimming has expressed confidence, more so than last time, stating, “I like where we’re at a whole lot better than I liked where we were with Dan Kelly."

This is an election we will be watching very closely to give us an idea of how the 2026 mid-term elections will fall.