State Supreme Court Race Now Called a ‘Nail-Biter’

Wisconsin voters are at the center of a high-stakes election on April 1st. All eyes are on the heated race between former Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel and Judge Susan Crawford for a seat on the State Supreme Court. National figures like Elon Musk are pouring millions into campaign ads and both candidates are scrambling for every vote. The Lincoln Project’s Trygve Olson joins Todd Allbaugh, host of The Todd Allbaugh Show, to discuss why this specific race is now called a ‘nail-biter.”

“This election is going to be extremely close,” Olson says. “And even small shifts in voter turnout could tilt the balance.”

Every single vote is going to matter. I urge Wisconsinites not to fall under the assumption the race is already decided.

Trygve Olson, The Lincoln Project

Some recent research suggests the race could be far closer than many are anticipating. The numbers show Schimel and Crawford have around 48% to 50% of voter’s support. And with roughly 2 to 4% of voters still unsure, turnout will be the deciding factor. 

Olson tells Allbaugh that campaign strategies are shaped by the key battleground areas of the state, including the more rural counties for Schimel and urban areas like Milwaukee and Dane County for Crawford. Both candidates are also facing intense ads, with millions of dollars from third-party donors often creating confusion and frustration for many voters.

“Every single vote is going to matter,” Olson explains. “I urge Wisconsinites not to fall under the assumption the race is already decided. Voter engagement will be crucial, particularly among moderate to conservative-leaning individuals who are still deciding where their support lies.”

And as election day arrives, experts agree the true winner will be determined by those who turn out to vote—and say the stakes could not be higher. There’s already discussion about an automatic recount in the event of a close result. You, as a Wisconsin voter, have the power to shape the state’s judicial future.

Listen to the entire segment here: