As Trump administration lawyers have intensified their appeals to the Supreme Court, they’re relying on recurring tropes.

Elon Musk’s prominent role in the most expensive judicial race in American history has helped turn Tuesday’s election into a battle over national politics.

President Donald Trump has railed in recent weeks against federal judges who have ruled against his administration, painting them as threats to the country and demanding that the Supreme Court halt all nationwide injunctions.

Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford addresses a crowd Saturday, March 29, 2025 at a campaign stop at a field office for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Andy Manis) MADISON,

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.

Susan Crawford has won an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, securing the court’s liberal wing another two years in the majority.

A trio of elections Tuesday provided early warning signs to Republicans and President Donald Trump at the beginning of an ambitious term, as Democrats rallied against his efforts to slash the federal government and the outsized role being played by billionaire Elon Musk.

On Tuesday, conservative Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel will square off against liberal Dane County Judge Susan Crawford to determine the ideological direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The race will likely determine how the high court rules on issues like abortion access and union rights in the coming months.

Democrats achieved their biggest gains to date in the second Trump era, winning a fiercely contested State Supreme Court race in Wisconsin, while also landing relatively strong showings despite losing two Florida special elections.