On April 1, 2025, Wisconsin will hold a nonpartisan election for a 10-year term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The candidates are competing to fill the seat of incumbent Justice Ann Walsh Bradley who is retiring. The primary election was canceled given that only two candidates are running. The candidates are Dane County Circuit Court judge Susan Crawford, who has been endorsed by the Wisconsin Democratic Party, and Waukesha County Circuit Court judge Brad Schimel, who previously served as attorney general, a position he ran for as a Republican.
Estimated Total TV Spending: $27,908,099*
Candidates:
- Estimated spending by Brad Schimel: $4,724,471
- Estimated spending by Susan Crawford: $12,157,469
Outside groups:
- Reported spending by Fair Courts America: $2,550,007
- Reported spending by Building America’s Future: $3,259,178
- Reported spending by Americas PAC: $404,175
- Reported spending by WMC Issues Mobilization Council: $2,887,233
- Reported spending by Republican State Leadership Committee – Judicial Fairness Initiative: $767,767
- Reported spending by Power to the Polls Action Fund: $95,344
- Reported spending by American Civil Liberties Union, Inc: $48,692
- Reported spending by A Better Wisconsin Together Political Fund: $932,753
- Reported spending by First Principles Wisconsin: $30,667
- Reported spending by Justice Project: $75,343
Source: Vivvix/CMAG
*Spending figures last updated March 7, 2025 and includes cost of future ads purchased by candidates.
Advertisements
March 7 – WI Crawford One Time Thing
In this ad, a voiceover says: “That was just one time Brad Schimel let a sex predator loose on our kids.”
Sponsor: Susan Crawford
Estimated Spending: $660
March 6 – WI Building Americas Future Curtis O’Brien
In this ad, a voiceover says: “Judge Susan Crawford could have given him (Curtis O’Brien) sixty years in prison but she let him walk two years in prison – that’s it.”
Sponsor: Building America’s Future
Estimated Spending: $1,130
March 6 – WI WMCIMC David Zoerner
In this ad, Sheriff David Zoerner says: “We can’t keep you safe when liberal judges refuse to actually punish violent criminals.”
Sponsor: WMC Issues Mobilization Council
Estimated Spending: $10,630
March 6 – WI Schimel Worst Nightmare
In this ad, a voiceover says: “It’s terrifying that Susan Crawford would consider a four year sentence appropriate for raping a child.”
Sponsor: Brad Schimel
Estimated Spending: $19,790
March 6 – WI WMCIMC Todd Skarban
In this ad, Sheriff Todd Skarban says: “Wisconsin law enforcement works extremely hard to keep you safe. So, when liberal judges like Susan Crawford refuse to actually punish violent criminals it undermines our entire system.”
Sponsor: WMC Issues Mobilization Council
Estimated Spending: $11,110
March 4 – WI Crawford Trusts Women
In this ad, a woman says: “Susan Crawford is the common sense judge who will protect our rights and Brad Schimel is the extremist who will take them away.”
Sponsor: Susan Crawford
Estimated Spending: $123,470
March 4 – WI A Better WI 1849 Abortion Ban
In this ad, a female voiceover says: “Schimel says we have no right to an abortion and supported overturning Roe v. Wade.”
Sponsor: A Better Wisconsin Together Political Fund
Estimated Spending: $43,520
February 28 – WI Schimel Andrea
In this ad, Andrea says: “I know Brad Schimel and he has always focused on getting justice for victims of sexual assault.”
Sponsor: Brad Schimel
Estimated Spending: $436,540
February 28 – WI Crawford False Ads
In this ad, Susan Crawford says: “Right now, there’s a lot of false ads trying to tell you who I am – so I thought I’d tell you myself.”
Sponsor: Susan Crawford
Estimated Spending: $142,330
February 28 – WI Crawford Chris M
In this ad, Chris says: “She (Crawford) prosecuted health care fraud and she’ll stand up to the big insurance companies that try and rip you off – not help them do it.”
Sponsor: Susan Crawford
Estimated Spending: $102,840
February 28 – WI Crawford Jim B
In this ad, Jim says: “He (Schimel) blamed an underage girl for being sexually assaulted – that’s disgusting and too extreme for the Supreme Court.”
Sponsor: Susan Crawford
Estimated Spending: $79,520
February 25 – WI RSLC & Judicial Fairness President Trump
In this ad, a voiceover says: “Susan Crawford would guarantee a far left majority on Wisconsin’s highest court to defend democratic priorities, to protect sanctuary cities, stop deportations of illegal immigrants and let criminals roam free.”
Sponsor: Republican State Leadership Committee and Judicial Fairness
Estimated Spending: $6,850
February 25 – WI Fair Courts America Curtis O’Brien
In this ad, a voiceover says: “A five year old girl violated – the predator faced up to sixty years behind bars and radical Susan Crawford sided with him.”
Sponsor: Fair Courts America
Estimated Spending: $298,590
February 23 – WI Schimel Pattern 15
In this ad, a voiceover says: “For Susan Crawford it’s a pattern – putting pedophiles back on the street free to prowl our pools and prey on our kids.”
Sponsor: Brad Schimel
Estimated Spending: $1,700
February 22 – WI Schimel Public Pool 15
In this ad, a voiceover says: “Susan Crawford, the radical liberal judge who let the predator out in just four years.”
Sponsor: Brad Schimel
Estimated Spending: $1,320
February 21 – WI Crawford Two Kinds
In this ad, a police officer says: “Susan Crawford made sure rapists, murderers and abusers were behind bars so victims could get justice.”
Sponsor: Susan Crawford
Estimated Spending: $483,320
February 20 – WI WMCIMC Catch and Release
In this ad, a voiceover says: “Catch and release Crawford lets criminals off easy all the time. No one is safe with dangerous liberal judges like catch and release Crawford.”
Sponsor: WMC Issues Mobilization Council
Estimated Spending: $480,950
February 20 – WI Building Americas Future Dangerous Decisions
In this ad, a voiceover says: “The monster faces 100 years in prison but Judge Susan Crawford let him off with just four – that was Crawford’s choice.”
Sponsor: Building America’s Future
Estimated Spending: $184,370
February 19 – WI Schimel Public Pool
In this ad, a voiceover says: “Criminals are praying Susan Crawford gets elected because she fights for them not us.”
Sponsor: Brad Schimel
Estimated Spending: $530,110
February 18 – WI Crawford Two Years 15
In this ad, a voiceover says: “Over two years, Brad Schimel tested only nine rape kits out of 6,000 that needed testing.”
Sponsor: Susan Crawford
Estimated Spending: $54,930
February 14 – WI Crawford 1849 15
In this ad, a voiceover says: “Brad Schimel wants to take us back to an abortion ban from 1849.”
Sponsor: Susan Crawford
Estimated Spending: $294,550
February 14 – WI Crawford Hal J
In this ad, Hal J says: “I have kids and I can’t believe all a sex predator had to do to get a plea deal was give Brad Schimel’s campaign $5,000.”
Sponsor: Susan Crawford
Estimated Spending: $407,130
February 14 – WI Crawford Lying to You 15
In this ad, a voiceover says: “Brad Schimel is lying to you about abortion. Behind closed doors he says he’ll ban it.”
Sponsor: Susan Crawford
Estimated Spending: $135,940
February 14 – WI Crawford Laurel
In this ad, a woman says: “The 1849 law that Brad Schimel supports almost killed me.”
Sponsor: Susan Crawford
Estimated Spending: $896,800
February 12 – WI Schimel Mackenzie & Haley
In this ad, Brad Schimel says: “The people of Wisconsin through referendum or their elected representatives should decide the question of abortion.”
Sponsor: Brad Schimel
Estimated Spending: $224,930
February 12 – WI Schimel Dale Schmidt 15
In this ad, a sheriff says: “I was there when Brad Schimel initiated the sexual assault kit initiative, pushing hard to make sure that victims of sexual assault were able to see their offenders convicted.”
Sponsor: Brad Schimel
Estimated Spending: $219,510
February 11 – WI Schimel This Street
In this ad, the voiceover says: “The new neighbor is a pedophile who repeatedly raped a little girl released after just two years in prison thanks to Judge Susan Crawford sweetheart sentence”.
Sponsor: Brad Schimel
Estimated Spending: $659,350
February 7 – WI Crawford Untested 15
In the ad, the voiceover says: “Take it from a sheriff, Brad Schimel is too extreme for the Supreme Court.”
Sponsor: Susan Crawford
Estimated Spending: $486,160
February 7 – WI Crawford Nine 15
In this ad, the voiceover says: “Over two years, Brad Schimel tested only nine rape kits out of 6,000 that needed testing while rapists walked free and victims waited for justice.”
Sponsor: Susan Crawford
Estimated Spending: $308,270
February 6 - WI Crawford A Lie B Roll
In this ad, the voiceover says: “That’s Brad Schimel. Too extreme for the Wisconsin Supreme Court.”
Sponsor: Susan Crawford
Estimated Spending: $352,160
February 6 – WI Crawford A Lie
In this ad, the voiceover says: “Schimel let domestic abusers walk with no jail time and he’s so corrupt he gave a plea deal to a man caught with thousands of files of child pornography.”
Sponsor: Susan Crawford
Estimated Spending: $136,650
February 4 – WI Schimel Injustice To Us All
In this ad, the voiceover says: “Be traumatized by Crawford’s disregard for justice, her criminal coddling record is an injustice to us all.”
Sponsor: Brad Schimel
Estimated Spending: $571,630
January 21 – WI Crawford Common Sense
In this ad, Judge Crawford says: “For me, being a judge is really pretty simple. There is right and there’s wrong and I’ll always do the right thing for Wisconsin.”
Sponsor: Susan Crawford
Estimated Spending: $323,150
January 21 – WI Crawford Common Sense B Roll
In this ad, a voiceover says: "On the Supreme Court, she’ll look at the facts and uphold the law – fair, impartial, common sense.
Sponsor: Susan Crawford
Estimated Spending: $251,880
January 21 – WI Crawford Untested
In this ad, a voiceover says: “Brad Schimel – he let 6,000 rape kits sit untested for two years while survivors waited for justice.”
Sponsor: Susan Crawford
Estimated Spending: $218,960
January 21 – WI Crawford 1849 Law
In this ad, a voiceover says: “Brad Schimel – he wants to bring back the 1849 law that bans all abortions with no exceptions for rape or incest.”
Sponsor: Susan Crawford
Estimated Spending: $362,470
January 17 – WI Schimel Job Title
In this ad, Judge Schimel says: “Your job title shouldn’t define you but in the job I’m running for it should. I’m Brad Schimel and justice is my life’s work.”
Sponsor: Brad Schimel
Estimated Spending: $498,770
January 14 – WI Schimel Justice for Victims
In this ad, Judge Schimel says: “Law school taught me the rights of the accused but justice for the abused is denied all too often.”
Sponsor: Brad Schimel
Estimated Spending: $740,190
