On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that the Republican Party of Wisconsin filed a formal complaint against Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford in connection with her conduct during the ongoing Supreme Court race. The complaint alleges that Crawford sought financial support from donors by promising to alter Wisconsin’s congressional maps, a move that could potentially shift the political balance in the state.

The Supreme Court election, scheduled for April 1, features a contest between conservative candidate Brad Schimel and Crawford, who is running as a liberal. The outcome of this election is crucial, as it could influence future legal challenges to the state’s congressional maps, which have been a point of contention in Wisconsin politics.

Republicans claim that Crawford’s actions indicate a bias and a willingness to compromise judicial impartiality. They highlighted an email from January 13, which announced a “donor advisory briefing” featuring Crawford and Ben Wikler, the Chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. The email suggested that winning the Supreme Court race could lead to Democrats gaining two additional U.S. House seats, a significant advantage in future elections.

Crawford’s campaign has strongly refuted the allegations, arguing that Schimel is the one engaging in partisan tactics. They pointed out that he has previously sought donations from Republican groups, labeling him as the true partisan candidate. According to Crawford’s spokesperson, Derrick Honeyman, Crawford has never made comments regarding congressional redistricting during any meetings or publicly.

The contentious nature of the race reflects broader partisan tensions in Wisconsin, a state known for its closely divided political landscape. Currently, Republicans hold six out of eight congressional districts in Wisconsin, despite the state being characterized as highly competitive. The accusations against Crawford come amid ongoing discussions about the fairness of the congressional maps, which Democrats have challenged in the past without success.

The GOP’s complaint against Crawford has been officially submitted to the Wisconsin Judicial Commission. In response, Crawford stated that she participated in the Zoom meeting to introduce herself and articulate her commitment to fairness and impartiality on the bench. She exited after delivering her introductory remarks and claims she did not engage with the meeting’s agenda further.

Adding to the atmosphere of conflict, Crawford’s campaign filed its own complaint with the state Ethics Commission earlier this month. This was in response to a television ad that allegedly used digitally altered images of her without disclosure, raising concerns about compliance with new state laws governing AI-manipulated political advertisements. Meanwhile, a liberal group has also lodged a complaint against Schimel, accusing him of violating ethical standards for judicial candidates by soliciting campaign donations directly.

As the election approaches, both campaigns are gearing up for what is expected to be a heated battle, with both parties rallying support for their respective candidates. The race has significant implications not only for the ideological composition of the Wisconsin Supreme Court but also for the future of congressional representation in the state.

While the GOP has emphasized the need for integrity and impartiality in the judiciary, Crawford’s camp argues that these accusations are merely politically motivated attempts to undermine her candidacy ahead of the election.

 

 

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel