(The Center Square) – Democrats across Wisconsin and beyond celebrated Susan Crawford’s victory over Brad Schimel to maintain an advantage for liberals on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Former President Barack Obama weighed in, congratulating Crawford as “a judge who believes in the rule of law and protecting our freedoms” as Crawford received 55% of the vote compared to 45% for Schimel in what shows on the ballot to be a nonpartisan race but had clear party lines amongst supporters.
Democrats took offense to the financial backing of Schimel by Elon Musk while individuals such as George Soros and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker donated to Crawford’s campaign in a race that included $107 million in overall spending, according to WisPolitics.
Schimel conceded the race and told supporters objecting at his Election Night party “You gotta accept the results. The numbers aren’t gonna turn around.”
Crawford told supporters that the campaign had been a “life-altering experience in so many ways.”
“Tonight, Wisconsinites stood up and said loudly that justice does not have a price – our Courts are not for sale,” Crawford wrote on social media.
The election reportedly saw record turnout in some precincts, with seven Milwaukee-area precincts running out of ballots as the election commission sent couriers to sites with more ballots leading to voting delays before the 8 p.m. central time cutoff for voters to get in line.
“Democracy is alive and roaring in the Badger State,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler. “Tonight, Wisconsinites turned out at record levels to deliver a resounding, well-earned Supreme Court victory for a candidate who represents our state’s highest ideals. Wisconsin Democrats enthusiastically congratulate Justice-elect Susan Crawford and look forward to a 10-year term of jurisprudence marked by integrity, impartiality, and common sense.”
