2025 Wisconsin elections
The 2025 Wisconsin Spring Election was held in the U.S. state of Wisconsin on April 1, 2025. The race seen as most significant was an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which became the most expensive judicial race in history. The election also included a state-wide race for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Several other nonpartisan local and judicial offices were also on the ballot, as were many local school funding referendums. The 2025 Wisconsin Spring Primary was held February 18, 2025.
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin was seen as broadly victorious across the state's Spring elections. In the Supreme Court race, the Democrats' preferred candidate, Susan M. Crawford, defeated the Republicans' preferred candidate, Brad Schimel, maintaining the liberal 4-3 majority on the court. The Democrats also supported the incumbent state superintendent, Jill Underly, who won a second four-year term. Additionally, Democrats saw success in many local elections including in emerging bellwether Winnebago County, where former Assembly minority leader Gordon Hintz defeated a Republican-backed incumbent to become county executive. Democrats also supported a number of successful school funding referendums throughout the state.
On the same ballot, however, voters ratified a Republican-supported amendment to the Constitution of Wisconsin, which enshrined a photo identification requirement to vote. The requirement was already in place in Wisconsin due to existing state laws; in effect, the amendment made the requirement harder to remove.
State offices
Executive
Superintendent of Public Instruction
A regularly scheduled election for Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin was on the ballot for the general election on April 1, 2025. The incumbent superintendent Jill Underly, first elected in 2021, won her second four-year term, defeating education consultant Brittany Kinser.Sauk County superintendent Jeff Wright also ran, but was eliminated in the February 18 nonpartisan primary.
Judicial
State Supreme Court
A regularly scheduled Wisconsin Supreme Court election was on the ballot for the general election on April 1, 2025, for a ten-year term on the court. The incumbent judge, Ann Walsh Bradley, did not run for re-election, retiring after 30 years on the court. Dane County circuit judge Susan M. Crawford defeated Waukesha County circuit judge and former state attorney general Brad Schimel, maintaining the 4-3 liberal majority on the court.The 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election became the most expensive judicial race in United States history, surpassing the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election. Total spending on the race reached nearly $100 million; billionaire Elon Musk—at the time a senior advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump—spent more than $25 million through his political action committees on behalf of Brad Schimel.
State Court of Appeals
Three seats on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals were on the ballot for the general election on April 1, 2025.- In District II, incumbent judge Mark Gundrum was unopposed for a third six-year term. He was appointed to the court by Governor Scott Walker in 2011 and won election in 2013 and 2019 without opposition.
- In District III, incumbent judge Lisa K. Stark was unopposed for a third six-year term. She was elected without opposition in 2013 and re-elected without opposition in 2019. After winning her first election, she was appointed to begin her term early due to a vacancy.
- In District IV, incumbent judge Jennifer E. Nashold was unopposed for a second six-year term. She was first elected without opposition in 2019.
State circuit courts
- In Jefferson County's branch 1 race, incumbent judge Will Gruber defeated a challenge from attorney Jack Chavez.
- In Jefferson County's branch 2 race, incumbent judge Theresa Beck defeated a challenge from attorney Jennifer Weber.
- In La Crosse County, attorney Joe Veenstra defeated family court commissioner Eric Sanford to succeed retiring judge Ramona Gonzalez.
- In Marinette County, incumbent judge Peggy Miller defeated district attorney DeShea Morrow.
- In Racine County, public defender Jamie McClendon defeated incumbent judge Jon Fredrickson.
- In St. Croix County, deputy district attorney Brian Smestad defeated county corporation counsel Heather Amos to succeed retiring judge Edward Vlack. Attorney James Johnson was eliminated in the primary.
- In Waukesha County's branch 4 race, assistant district attorney David Maas defeated incumbent judge Bridget Schoenborn.
- In Waukesha County's branch 6 race, assistant district attorney Zach Wittchow defeated former circuit judge Fred Strampe to succeed retiring judge and Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel.
Ballot measures
Spring Question 1
A constitutional amendment was ratified by voters at the Spring general election, April 1, 2025. The amendment added a voter ID requirement for voting in Wisconsin. Wisconsin law already required that an active form of photo identification be submitted to vote.The question read: