Donald Trump has been on a roll since entering the White House. But some are looking to stop him.
And Democrats are threatening to deliver a lethal knock out blow to the Trump admin.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Race: A High-Stakes Battle with National Implications
Wisconsin’s upcoming state Supreme Court election on April 1 is shaping up to be one of the most consequential judicial races in recent history. With potential ramifications far beyond state lines, the outcome could influence the balance of power in Washington, D.C., and reshape the nation’s political landscape.
This election follows the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court race, where liberal-leaning Janet Protasiewicz triumphed over conservative candidate Dan Kelly, tipping the court’s balance to a 4-3 liberal majority. Now, with the retirement of liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, conservatives have an opportunity to reclaim the majority. However, Democrats see the race as a pivotal moment to advance policy goals and redraw legislative maps that could cost Republicans two U.S. House seats and shift control in Congress.
“To say that what happens in Wisconsin will not stay in Wisconsin is putting it really mildly,” Wisconsin GOP Chairman Brian Schimming said to Breitbart News.
“It could literally mean the success of President Trump’s term. It could literally mean them having the votes to bring impeachment articles against him,” he continued. “The implications of what happens in Wisconsin would be a political earthquake for the House of Representatives.”
The two candidates vying for the seat are former conservative Wisconsin Attorney General and Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel and Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford, a former attorney for Leftist groups like Planned Parenthood. The race is expected to break spending records, surpassing the staggering $56 million spent in the 2023 contest, with significant contributions from out-of-state donors. Wisconsin Supreme Court justices serve ten-year terms, making each election a long-term investment in judicial influence.
“This is the last chance we have until 2028 to take a majority,” Schimming emphasized.
Democrats are openly viewing the race as a strategic move to gain influence in Washington. An email invitation collected by Breitbart News for a January 13 briefing with Democrat donors, Crawford, and Wisconsin Democrat Chairman Ben Wikler bore the subject line: “Chance to put two more House seats in play for 2026.”
“But winning this race could also result in Democrats being able to win two additional US House seats, half the seats needed to win control of the House in 2026,” the email stated.
The two targeted seats are now held by Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) in the 1st Congressional District and Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) in the 3rd Congressional District.
“They got caught saying the quiet thing out loud, and they revealed what they’re up to. This is, as it was in 2023, a power play to attract enormous amounts of money from partisan donors and turn that into results on the court,” Schimel said to Breitbart News, referencing the above email.
“This is going to affect not just Wisconsin, this will affect the nation,” Schimel added. “When people talk about the timeline that President Trump has to push his goals, that timeline will be cut short or even shorter if they use the Wisconsin Supreme Court to gerrymander the maps as a court and change our representation in the House of Representatives.”
As with many elections since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, Democrats and the Leftist media are focusing on abortion rights as a key issue in the race. When Roe was struck down, Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion law went into effect but was put on hold in December 2023, setting the stage for a future ruling by the state’s high court. Crawford has not explicitly stated how she would rule on the issue, but she has voiced her belief that the government shouldn’t regulate abortions. In an interview with the New York Times, she said, “I believe as a woman that I should be the one to make decisions about my own body and my health care, together with my doctors. I trust other women to make those same decisions.”
Conservative activist Scott Presler argues that Democrats’ strategy does not align with the priorities of most Americans. He praised Schimel’s focus on public safety and judicial impartiality.
“I just think that in this age of information — thanks to people like Elon Musk who has really opened up a platform for free speech — people are understanding … our government with USAID is a really big issue. The border is a big issue. Inflation is a big issue. Having peace, not war, is a big issue. Deporting criminal illegal aliens who are in states like Wisconsin is a big issue,” Presler said to Breitbart News. “And so therefore, I would argue that [with] abortion, the Democrats are going to try to make it their top number one priority like they did with Kamala, [but] ultimately, voters are sensing and feeling struggles that are much bigger and have a larger priority in their lives than abortion.”
Presler, who regularly posts on X about the significance of the race, believes that redistricting and election integrity will be the most consequential issues of the April 1 election for Wisconsin. Following Protasiewicz’s election in 2023, the court’s liberal majority overturned a ban on ballot drop boxes and forced the Republican-led legislature to redraw state legislative maps. Additionally, the April ballot includes a proposed amendment to enshrine voter ID requirements in the state constitution. But the impact of this election could extend beyond 2024, potentially shaping the 2028 presidential race as well.
“It’s not just the Wisconsin Supreme Court. It’s potentially taking the House majority away from Republicans, therefore stalling President Trump and taking away his ability to govern and legislate,” Presler explained. “Furthermore, it also has 2028 ramifications. I’m already in the mode of working towards presumptive nominee presidential candidate JD Vance in 2028. There is no stop to work that we do, and so I am cognizant that these Supreme Court races are going to impact even the next presidential election.”
With national stakes riding on the outcome, Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race is drawing unprecedented attention and investment. It’s highly important that Republicans succeed in this race, or their agenda, both at the state and the federal level, could be stopped.
The Federalist Wire will keep you updated on this Wisconsin Supreme Court race.
