On April 1, 2025, Wisconites elected Susan Crawford to a ten-year term on the state supreme court. Voters reelected Jill Underly for another four-year term as state superintendent of public instruction.
The spring election drew national attention and big-dollar donations from prominent political donors, including Elon Musk and George Soros, as well as national Republican and democratic groups.
Susan Crawford will take her seat on the state supreme court in Aug. 2025, replacing liberal Chief Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, who has served on the state’s high court for three decades.
The election became highly contentious and partisan compared to judicial elections in the past. The spring election for the Supreme Court set record spending limits where both sides and outside contributors spent over $100 million, doubling the previous nationwide record of $51 million set during the 2023 state Supreme Court election, also in Wisconsin.
“My promise to Wisconsin is clear: I will be a fair, impartial, and common sense justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court,” Crawford said to supporters following her election.
The race drew exceptional attention following donations made by Trump ally Elon Musk, which totaled millions of dollars.
“As a little girl growing up in Chippewa Falls, I never could have imagined I’d be taking on the richest man in the world for justice in Wisconsin and we won,” Crawford said.
Crawford beat Brad Schimel, a Republican-backed Waukesha Judge and former state attorney general.
“We will rise again. We’ll get up to fight another day, but this wasn’t our day,” Schimel said to supporters following his loss.
Although the race for Supreme Court attracted a majority of attention ahead of election day, voters also cast ballots for state superintendent of public instruction and other local positions.
Incumbent Jill Underly was reelected to the office of state superintendent of public instruction, the state official overseeing all public schools in Wisconsin, as well as instructional standards and testing benchmarks.
Underlie faced off against educational consultant Brittany Kinser, who state Republicans backed, as state democrats backed Underly, although the race is technically nonpartisan.
“I’m just deeply honored and humbled for the trust you have placed in me to continue as state superintendent from Public instruction … This victory belongs to all of us who believe in the power of public education, but for every educator, family, and most importantly, kids across our state.” Underly said following her reelection.
Stoughton residents also voted to elect city council members and the Stoughton Area School District Board of Education.
Adrienne Nienow defeated challenger Adam Wallace in the race for Stoughton City Council District 3 Alder. District 3 represents parts of Stoughton, west of Page Street and south of Jackson Street.
“The decisions made by our city council today will determine a lot about our quality of life in the years to come. I’m up for the challenge because I want to build a brighter future for our children and grandchildren.” Nienow said before her successful reelection bid.
All four candidates for the SASD school board secured a spot on the board. Lisa Pugh won 26.4% of the vote, Jill Patterson won 25.5% of the vote, Jim Moeser won 24.2%, and Sharon Meilahn Bartlett won 22.8%. Pugh, Patterson, and Moesner will serve a three-year term, and Meilahn Bartlett will serve a one-year term on the board.