A High-Stakes Endorsement
On March 21, 2025, President Donald Trump jumped into Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race with both feet, endorsing conservative candidate Brad Schimel via a fiery Truth Social post. With the election set for April 1 and early voting already underway, this isn’t just a pat on the back it’s a calculated play in a state where the court’s ideological tilt could swing big-time. Trump’s backing has turned an already intense contest into a full-on political brawl, and as of March 22, 2025, the sparks are flying.
The Players: Schimel vs. Crawford
Schimel, a Waukesha County judge and former Wisconsin Attorney General, is up against Susan Crawford, a Dane County judge with liberal support. They’re vying to replace Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, who’s stepping down. Right now, the court’s got a 4-3 liberal edge, but a Schimel win flips that to a conservative majority. This isn’t small potatoes abortion laws, voting rights, and redistricting are all on the line in a state that’s been a political hot potato for years.
Trump’s Pitch and Schimel’s Response
Trump didn’t mince words. He hailed Schimel as a “common sense” choice and torched Crawford as a “radical left liberal” who’s weak on crime and bent on wrecking Wisconsin and the nation. It’s vintage Trump big, bold, and aimed straight at his base, urging them to “get out and vote early.” Schimel was all over it, telling supporters he’s “humbled and deeply honored.” He’s milking the MAGA energy, tying the race to Trump’s November 2024 Wisconsin win and promising to bring “objectivity” back to the bench. In a WISN chat with Matt Smith, he even spilled that Trump called him personally proof the president’s got skin in this game.
Crawford Fires Back
Crawford’s team didn’t flinch. They hit Schimel hard, accusing him of bowing to “right-wing special interests” his whole career. They dragged up old dirt untested rape kits from his AG stint (he says he cleared the backlog by 2019) and a plea deal they call sketchy. Spokesman Derrick Honeyman brushed off Trump’s move, saying they’d pegged Schimel as his guy months ago. Their bet? Wisconsin voters will “reject Schimel again,” like they did when he lost the AG gig in 2018.
Money Talks: The Cash Flood
This race is drowning in dollars. Elon Musk’s America PAC has pumped over $12 million into Schimel’s campaign think ads, door-knockers, the works all tying him to Trump’s agenda. Crawford’s not hurting either, with bigwigs like George Soros and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker channeling funds through the state Democratic Party. Total spending’s already broken records and could hit $75 million by the end. For a “nonpartisan” judicial race, that’s nuts, but Wisconsin’s court fights have been partisan bloodbaths for a while now.
Why Trump’s In and What’s at Stake
Trump’s got reasons to care. Wisconsin’s a swing state he nabbed in 2016 and 2024, and a conservative court could cement policies his crew loves strict voter ID, abortion limits, you name it. On X, MAGA fans like @lungi_arthur are hyping it as a linchpin to “preserve margins in the House” and push Trump’s vision. Flip side? @downwithtyranny warns a Schimel flop could make Trump and Musk look like GOP kryptonite, especially with all that cash on the table.
The Big Picture
This isn’t just about two judges it’s a power grab with teeth. The next justice could lock in an 1849 abortion ban, tweak election rules for 2026 and 2028, or redraw congressional lines. Schimel’s running as the law-and-order champ, backed by sheriffs and cops, while Crawford’s leaning on her prosecutor cred and Planned Parenthood nods. Trump’s endorsement cranked the noise to eleven, making it as much his fight as theirs.
What’s Next?
Will Trump’s muscle push Schimel over the line, or will it backfire in a state that’s leaned liberal in recent court races? April 1’s the deadline, and with Wisconsin’s history of razor-thin margins, every vote’s gold. This one’s gonna be a nail-biter stay tuned.
On March 21, 2025, President Donald Trump jumped into Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race with both feet, endorsing conservative candidate Brad Schimel via a fiery Truth Social post. With the election set for April 1 and early voting already underway, this isn’t just a pat on the back it’s a calculated play in a state where the court’s ideological tilt could swing big-time. Trump’s backing has turned an already intense contest into a full-on political brawl, and as of March 22, 2025, the sparks are flying.
The Players: Schimel vs. Crawford
Schimel, a Waukesha County judge and former Wisconsin Attorney General, is up against Susan Crawford, a Dane County judge with liberal support. They’re vying to replace Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, who’s stepping down. Right now, the court’s got a 4-3 liberal edge, but a Schimel win flips that to a conservative majority. This isn’t small potatoes abortion laws, voting rights, and redistricting are all on the line in a state that’s been a political hot potato for years.
Trump’s Pitch and Schimel’s Response
Trump didn’t mince words. He hailed Schimel as a “common sense” choice and torched Crawford as a “radical left liberal” who’s weak on crime and bent on wrecking Wisconsin and the nation. It’s vintage Trump big, bold, and aimed straight at his base, urging them to “get out and vote early.” Schimel was all over it, telling supporters he’s “humbled and deeply honored.” He’s milking the MAGA energy, tying the race to Trump’s November 2024 Wisconsin win and promising to bring “objectivity” back to the bench. In a WISN chat with Matt Smith, he even spilled that Trump called him personally proof the president’s got skin in this game.
Crawford Fires Back
Crawford’s team didn’t flinch. They hit Schimel hard, accusing him of bowing to “right-wing special interests” his whole career. They dragged up old dirt untested rape kits from his AG stint (he says he cleared the backlog by 2019) and a plea deal they call sketchy. Spokesman Derrick Honeyman brushed off Trump’s move, saying they’d pegged Schimel as his guy months ago. Their bet? Wisconsin voters will “reject Schimel again,” like they did when he lost the AG gig in 2018.
Money Talks: The Cash Flood
This race is drowning in dollars. Elon Musk’s America PAC has pumped over $12 million into Schimel’s campaign think ads, door-knockers, the works all tying him to Trump’s agenda. Crawford’s not hurting either, with bigwigs like George Soros and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker channeling funds through the state Democratic Party. Total spending’s already broken records and could hit $75 million by the end. For a “nonpartisan” judicial race, that’s nuts, but Wisconsin’s court fights have been partisan bloodbaths for a while now.
Why Trump’s In and What’s at Stake
Trump’s got reasons to care. Wisconsin’s a swing state he nabbed in 2016 and 2024, and a conservative court could cement policies his crew loves strict voter ID, abortion limits, you name it. On X, MAGA fans like @lungi_arthur are hyping it as a linchpin to “preserve margins in the House” and push Trump’s vision. Flip side? @downwithtyranny warns a Schimel flop could make Trump and Musk look like GOP kryptonite, especially with all that cash on the table.
The Big Picture
This isn’t just about two judges it’s a power grab with teeth. The next justice could lock in an 1849 abortion ban, tweak election rules for 2026 and 2028, or redraw congressional lines. Schimel’s running as the law-and-order champ, backed by sheriffs and cops, while Crawford’s leaning on her prosecutor cred and Planned Parenthood nods. Trump’s endorsement cranked the noise to eleven, making it as much his fight as theirs.
What’s Next?
Will Trump’s muscle push Schimel over the line, or will it backfire in a state that’s leaned liberal in recent court races? April 1’s the deadline, and with Wisconsin’s history of razor-thin margins, every vote’s gold. This one’s gonna be a nail-biter stay tuned.
