By Guest 
In just two days, Wisconsin voters will head to the polls for a high-stakes doubleheader that’s grabbing headlines nationwide: a blockbuster Supreme Court election and a game-changing voter ID ballot initiative.
On April 1, 2025, the battle between conservative firebrand Brad Schimel and liberal contender Susan Crawford will determine the ideological fate of the Wisconsin Supreme Court—while a separate vote could lock voter ID requirements into the state constitution, potentially reshaping elections for years to come.
Wisconsin’s Supreme Court Showdown
This isn’t just a local tussle—it’s a political earthquake in the making. The Supreme Court race has shattered spending records, with over $80 million poured in (and counting!), making it the most expensive judicial contest in U.S. history.
Billionaires are flexing their wallets: Elon Musk has dumped millions to boost Schimel, including a jaw-dropping $1 million handout to a Green Bay voter who signed his petition against “activist judges.”
Meanwhile, Democratic heavyweights like George Soros and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker are bankrolling Crawford, who’s raked in a staggering $25 million, outpacing Schimel’s $14.3 million haul.
The stakes? Control of the court’s slim 4-3 liberal majority hangs in the balance. A Schimel victory could flip it conservative, potentially greenlighting GOP-friendly redistricting maps that might secure two Republican House seats—crucial for President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Crawford’s camp warns that Musk’s cash is an attempt to “buy” the court, especially with Tesla’s lawsuit against Wisconsin’s dealership laws looming. Schimel, endorsed by Trump himself, counters that Crawford’s liberal backers want to rig the system for Democrats.
And then there’s the voter ID bombshell. Already a requirement in Wisconsin, the April 1 initiative would enshrine it in the state constitution, a move conservatives hail as a “common-sense” safeguard—echoed by Trump and Musk—but one critics slam as a voter suppression tactic.
Posts on X are buzzing, with users like @JerryPonioWI urging, “Vote Brad Schimel and YES on voter ID!” while others warn of turnout deciding the fate of both issues.
National eyes are locked on Wisconsin. Trump’s rallying his base, joining Schimel for a phone town hall and blasting Crawford as a “Communist hand-picked candidate” on Truth Social. Barack Obama fired back, endorsing Crawford as the defender of “fundamental rights.” Even Musk’s last-minute plan to hand out $1 million checks to voters sparked a lawsuit from the state’s Democratic AG—though a judge let it slide.
With nearly 500,000 early votes already cast, turnout is smashing records from the 2023 Supreme Court race. Schimel’s betting on Trump’s 3.4 million November voters to show up again, while Crawford’s riding a wave of grassroots fury against Musk’s influence. “This is where you send a message,” one Crawford ad declares, framing her win as a rebuke to billionaire meddling.
Will Wisconsin’s Supreme Court go red or stay blue? Will voter ID lock in a new era of election rules? April 1 is crunch time—and the nation’s watching. Stay tuned.