Liberal Dane County Judge Susan Crawford scored an unexpectedly easy victory in the high-stakes race for a crucial seat on the state Supreme Court in the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history.

Liberal candidate Susan Crawford defeated Elon Musk-backed conservative judge Brad Schimel to preserve a 4-3 liberal majority in the Wisconsin Supreme Court, in a contest that became the most expensive state Supreme Court race in the country’s history, with nearly $100 million spent on campaigning.

During a recent campaign stop in Waukesha, Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel warmed up the crowd by doing his best President Donald Trump impression. It was a retelling of the call he had received from the president just a few days earlier.

Today voters in Wisconsin will choose a new Supreme Court justice. The state’s court is evenly split between liberals and conservatives. The winner could cast the deciding vote on Wisconsin’s abortion ban and on maps for its eight congressional districts.

Susan Crawford's victory over Brad Schimel in Tuesday's election keeps the Wisconsin Supreme Court under liberal control.

Wisconsin voters on Tuesday delivered Democrats their biggest jolt since President Donald Trump returned to power, handing liberals a state Supreme Court majority and defying Elon Musk’s record-shattering effort to bolster a conservative Trump acolyte.

Susan Crawford, winner of Tuesday’s race to fill a key seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, was backed by national Democrats and made opposition to Elon Musk a centerpiece of her campaign.

Susan Crawford defeated Brad Schimel for a State Supreme Court seat in a race that shattered spending records and maintained a liberal majority on the court.

Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel conceded the race on Tuesday evening, April 1. This was his speech to supporters.