>> The most expensive state Supreme Court race in U.S.
History results in a blowout win for Susan Crawford. Unofficial
results show the Liberal candidate, Crawford, defeated
Conservative Brad Schimel by ten points and the 2.3 million total
votes cast equals a 50% turnout rate, both of which are records
for a Supreme Court election in Wisconsin. Here and now, senior
political reporter Zach Schultz was with Crawford on election
night and has the story. [MUSIC]
>> All right, Wisconsin, we did it.
>> Susan Crawford's election night event turned into a
victory party a lot earlier in the evening than anyone expecte,
as the polls closed at 8:00, supporters were preparing for a
long night and were caught off guard as national election
observers started calling the race for Crawford. Soon enough,
retiring Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley came to the
stage to announce Crawford had won her seat on the court.
>> Justice elect. The future of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Susan Crawford. >> She took the stage with the
rest of the liberals, showing this election was not just about
one seat, but securing a Liberal majority on the court for at
least the next three years. >> Today, Wisconsinites fended
off an unprecedented attack on our democracy, our fair
elections and our Supreme Court. And Wisconsin's stood up and
said loudly that justice does not have a price. Our courts are
not for sale. >> The numbers aren't going to
aren't going to turn around. They're too bad. And we're not
going to pull this off. >> In Pewaukee, Brad Schimel had
planned for his band to play a much longer set list, but had to
cut it off early to tell his supporters it was over.
>> I've called Judge Crawford and conceded, I don't.
>> Know. >> No no, no no, you got to
accept the results. >> In the closing weeks, the
race had spiraled beyond the typical Wisconsin Supreme Court
election, with $100 million in spending. The race became
nationalized and Wisconsin voters were being asked to elect
a justice and deliver a referendum on Donald Trump, all
while Elon Musk wore a cheesehead and handed out
million dollar checks. >> I never could have imagined
that I'd be taking on the richest man in the world for
justice in Wisconsin, and we wo. >> Musk's spending certainly
boosted conservative turnout, but it also boosted liberal
turnout. with Brad Schimel and with him
kind of being with Elon Musk and the whole, you know, backed up
by billionaires thing. I think I think a lot of people were like,
you know, Elon Musk doesn't deserve to be in Wisconsin
politics. Liberal advocates are expected
to push cases that would overturn act ten and redraw the
lines for Wisconsin's congressional delegation.
>> I look forward to working with my colleagues on the
Wisconsin Supreme Court to deliver fair and impartial
decisions. ready to welcome her with open
arms. Justice Rebecca Bradley is the most outspoken of the
conservative minority and up for reelection next April.
>> I think with Judge Crawford's win, we're going to see a
continued politicization of the judiciary. And unfortunately,
over the last couple of terms, my four Liberal colleagues have
ruled uniformly with the Democratic Party, which is why
you saw all this money come in. >> Crawford will take the bench
in August to start her ten year term.
>> Together, we will confront and overcome the challenges we
face as our state's motto says, everybody forward. Thank you
from the bottom of my heart. Wisconsin. I am forever
grateful. >> Thank you.