WISCONSIN — With just days to go until the April 1 election, the pressure is on for both Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates running for the open seat.
Liberal-backed Susan Crawford and conservative-backed Brad Schimel rallied to get out the vote this weekend, making multiple stops around the state.
Crawford began her Saturday in Waukesha County speaking to supporters just days before the election. Her opponent is a current circuit court judge in that county, which traditionally leans Republican.
Crawford discussed why she thinks she’s the best choice to sit on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as Tuesday’s election nears.
“We want to have a justice on the Supreme Court who will be fair and impartial in interpreting our laws, who believes that our laws and constitution exist and should be interpreted to protect the rights of every Wisconsinite,” said Crawford.
Supporter Ellen Lindop of Brookfield said she’s voting for Crawford because she wants her rights to be protected.
“Good versus evil, I mean, it could really be that simple,” she said. “I mean, Brad Schimel would really be bad for Wisconsin and for women.”
Other supporters said they want a Supreme Court justice who, in their words, is “not a puppet” to President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
“My hopes are that we can continue with our Supreme Court effectiveness and not have to play political games with the court justice, which does not have a party,” said New Berlin Crawford supporter Kerry Mackay.
In Kenosha County on Saturday, dozens of supporters showed up for Schimel.
“Any liberal leftist activists on the Supreme Court will dismantle everything. They’ll have five years unchecked power. I’m not prepared to let that happen, and that’s why I’ve campaigned in all 72 counties and almost all of them over and over and over again, because that’s how we have to win this,” Schimel said to his supporters.
Several elected Republican officials were there backing Schimel, including State Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, who said he believes Schimel will bring stability back to the Supreme Court.
“I truly believe based on what he has done and what they want to do, our county is a judge, that he will look at the law as written and make a decision based on that and listen to the arguments that are made before the justices. I truly do not believe he is going to let politics enter into his decision-making,” said Nass.
Other voters in support of Schimel said Crawford has a liberal agenda that would negatively impact Wisconsin.
“Things like voter ID, Act 10, the redistricting, we’re concerned about all of those things that could really fundamentally change Wisconsin if we have an activist Supreme Court on our hands,” said Schimel supporter Katie Verzal.
The upcoming election on Tuesday will determine whether Wisconsin’s highest court will remain under 4-3 liberal control or flip to a conservative majority.
