The liberal prevailed in a technically nonpartisan Wisconsin State Supreme Court race that took on national importance. Voter turnout is an indication that Americans remain deeply engaged in the electoral process.

A liberal judge won big in Wisconsin's April 1 Supreme Court election while the GOP held two Florida House seats. Both parties are spinning the results ahead of the 2026 midterm cycle.

Last fall, Wisconsin Republican Eric Hovde spent days sowing doubt in the results after he lost a Senate race to Democrat Tammy Baldwin. He conceded nearly two weeks after Election Day, saying he did not want to “add to political strife through a contentious recount” even as he raised debunked election conspiracies.

In the state election, Judge Susan Crawford secured a whopping 55 percent of the vote, while the Musk-backed Judge Brad Schimel captured only 45 percent. While the position is non-partisan, this election still determined the court’s ideological lean. Crawford was backed by Democrats while Schimel was backed by Republicans.

Voters will decide whether to amend the Wisconsin Constitution to require photo identification to vote. Wisconsin law already requires voters to show identification, but passage of this Republican-backed ballot question would make it harder for that requirement to be removed by the courts or the legislature.

On April 1, voters in Florida's 1st and 6th districts will decide two U.S. House races, while Wisconsinites will elect a state Supreme Court justice.