Democrats Win Wisconsin Supreme Court Race as Republicans Retain Georgia House Seat

Voters in Wisconsin elected a Democratic-backed candidate to the state Supreme Court on April 2, 2025, maintaining the court's liberal majority. The race, which drew national attention due to its implications for abortion rights and redistricting, saw the Democratic candidate, Susan Crawford, defeat conservative Brad Schimel by a margin of about 10 points.

Turnout exceeded 2 million votes, the highest for a state supreme court election in Wisconsin history.

In Georgia, Republicans retained control of a safely Republican House seat in a special election to replace former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. The district, located in northwest Georgia, elected Republican Mike Collins, who won with 72% of the vote against Democrat John Cole. The seat became vacant after Greene's resignation in January 2025 to pursue a gubernatorial bid.

of the Georgia results shows the district shifted 25 points toward Democrats compared to the 2024 presidential election.

This leftward movement occurred despite the Republican victory, reflecting broader trends in suburban voter behavior. The New York Times reported this shift based on vote comparisons with the 2024 results. In Wisconsin, conservative candidates underperformed in local races alongside the Supreme Court contest.

Multiple sources noted declining support for Republican-aligned judicial candidates, though specific margins for other races varied. The election occurred amid ongoing debates over state-level policies on voting and reproductive rights.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court race was the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history, with spending surpassing $100 million from national donors on both sides. Organizations like the Democratic National Committee and Republican State Leadership Committee invested heavily. The court's 4-3 liberal majority, now reaffirmed, will influence future rulings on gerrymandering and abortion access.

Georgia's special election highlighted the durability of Republican strongholds in rural areas, even as urban and suburban precincts trended Democratic. The result aligns with patterns observed in the 2024 general election, where national Republican turnout lagged in off-year contests.

Political analysts from both CNBC and The New York Times pointed to these dynamics as indicators of potential challenges for Republicans in 2026 midterms.

The outcomes underscore partisan divides in battleground states. Wisconsin's result strengthens Democratic control over key judicial decisions, while Georgia's retention of the seat preserves the GOP's narrow House majority. Further elections in these states are scheduled for 2026.