The Wisconsin Supreme Court election on April 1st is shaping up to be one of the most consequential in the state’s history, with a potential shift in the court’s ideological balance that could impact key policies. The race between former Attorney General Brad Schimel and liberal candidate Susan Crawford has drawn national attention, particularly due to Crawford’s statements suggesting that a liberal victory could help flip Congressional seats in 2026. With the court already having ruled on issues like abortion and redistricting, the upcoming election will likely decide the fate of voter ID laws, Act 10, and the integrity of Wisconsin’s elections.
Act 10 Repeal and the Court’s Future
A major new development in the race is the recusal of conservative Justice Brian Hagedorn, which hand liberals on the court a 4-2 majority to decide the fate of Gov. Walker’s Act 10, Hagedorn’s recusal has reignited fears among conservatives that Act 10—the landmark collective bargaining reform passed under Governor Scott Walker—could be overturned. Liberals have long sought to dismantle Act 10, which curbed the power of public-sector unions and saved Wisconsin taxpayers $31 billion. A Crawford victory could pave the way for legal challenges aimed at reversing these reforms, which would dramatically shift the state’s political and fiscal landscape.
Flipping Congress: A Court Battle with National Implications
Reports from the New York Times and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel revealed that Crawford pitched her candidacy to Democratic donors, including billionaire Reid Hoffman, as a means to “put two more House seats in play for 2026.” If the court shifts left, new redistricting lawsuits could lead to the dismantling of the current congressional map, creating a path for Democrats to regain House seats in Wisconsin. While Crawford’s campaign accuses Schimel of being partisan due to his previous role as a Republican Attorney General, it is Crawford’s own messaging that has directly tied her campaign to Democratic electoral ambitions.
Voter ID Laws Under Threat
Crawford’s work with the League of Women Voters has been dedicated to overturning Wisconsin’s voter ID law, a policy that has been a pillar of election security for over a decade. The outcome of this Supreme Court race could determine whether Wisconsin remains one of the 34 states that require voter identification or joins the 16 states where Democrats win 80 percent of Congressional elections due to looser voting regulations. With a liberal court, Wisconsin’s voter ID law could be struck down in a 4-3 ruling, significantly altering future elections in the state.
Late-Term Abortion and the Supreme Court’s Role
Crawford has made abortion a central issue in her campaign, prominently featuring her stance in ads. Wisconsin’s abortion laws have already been loosened by a state judge, allowing the procedure up to 22 weeks—making it more permissive than laws in 45 of 47 European countries. Conservative legislators have proposed allowing voters to decide whether the limit should be set at 14 weeks, but a liberal Supreme Court could strike down such legislation before it ever reaches the ballot.
The Bottom Line
The outcome of this race could determine whether Wisconsin remains a conservative stronghold or shifts dramatically to the left. A Crawford victory could mean the repeal of Act 10, the overturning of voter ID laws, and a push to flip Republican congressional seats. Meanwhile, a Schimel victory would tilt the current balance of the court to conservatives. With so much at stake, Wisconsin voters will decide its future on April 1.