Wisconsin Supreme Court secured by liberals; Florida Republicans retain House seats

Voters in Wisconsin and Florida delivered mixed messages Tuesday in high-stakes elections that tested Republican influence and former President Donald Trump’s sway. 

While Florida Republicans secured two congressional seats, Wisconsin voters turned out in record numbers to hand Democrats a major judicial victory—electing liberal judge Susan Crawford to the state’s Supreme Court and solidifying a liberal majority through 2028.

Florida Republicans Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine both won their special election races, expanding the party’s hold in the narrowly divided U.S. House.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s judicial race shattered spending records and became a national proxy fight over Trump’s leadership, Elon Musk’s political influence, and the future of abortion rights, union power, and election law in a pivotal swing state.

Florida 1st Congressional district special election race

Local perspective:

Republican Jimmy Patronis won a special election Tuesday in Florida’s 1st Congressional District, bolstered by President Donald Trump’s endorsement to fill a vacant seat in reliably Republican northern Florida and despite national Democrats pouring millions into the race.

Patronis, the state’s chief financial officer, fended off a challenge from Democrat Gay Valimont even though she far outraised and outspent him. He will fill the northwest Florida seat vacated by former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who was chosen to be Trump’s attorney general but withdrew from consideration amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has denied.

RELATED: Florida special congressional elections test GOP

Florida 6th Congressional district special election race

Local perspective:

Republican state Sen. Randy Fine won a special election Tuesday to represent Florida's 6th Congressional District, defeating Democratic challenger Josh Weil and squashing efforts by national Democrats who spent millions of dollars on the race.

Fine had faced growing pressure during the race’s final days as some Republicans publicly criticized his campaign and fundraising efforts. His victory ends Democratic hopes to score a huge upset in a district that was heavily supportive of President Donald Trump in November.

The race to fill the seat vacated by Mike Waltz when he was tapped to become Trump’s national security adviser received national attention. Democrats poured money into Weil’s campaign to outraise Fine by nearly tenfold, attempting to flip a seat where the president won by more than 30 points.

Why Trump, GOP should care about Florida

Big picture view:

Control of the U.S. House is not at stake, but the outcome of the special elections could give congressional Republicans some breathing room in the narrowly divided chamber. Republicans hold 218 seats, the minimum needed for a majority in a fully seated House. Democrats hold 213 seats, with two additional vacant seats most recently held by Democratic lawmakers.

Wisconsin Supreme Court race 

Local perspective:

Unprecedented turnout led to ballot shortages in Wisconsin's largest city Tuesday as voters cast ballots in a high-stakes race to decide majority control of the state Supreme Court — a contest widely seen as a proxy for the nation’s broader political divides.

Susan Crawford, a Democratic-backed judge from Dane County, won a closely watched race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday, defeating Republican-supported Brad Schimel. Her victory secures a liberal majority on the court through at least 2028, with high stakes for decisions on abortion rights, union protections, voting laws and redistricting in a key presidential battleground state.

The race became a proxy war for national political forces. Crawford received support from former President Barack Obama, Planned Parenthood, and billionaire donors including George Soros and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. 

Meanwhile, Schimel leaned heavily on endorsements from former President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk, whose Department of Government Efficiency has drawn controversy for sweeping federal layoffs. Musk personally campaigned in Wisconsin, distributing million-dollar checks to voters.

RELATED:2025 Wisconsin spring election; what you need to know

Why Trump, GOP should care about Wisconsin

Big picture view:

Spending on the race shattered records, hitting nearly $99 million—nearly double the previous record set in Wisconsin’s 2023 Supreme Court election. Musk and affiliated groups spent over $21 million alone. High-profile figures like Trump Jr. and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz stumped for their respective candidates, and early voting turnout soared more than 50% higher than the previous court race.

Crawford focused her campaign on protecting abortion access and union rights, often attacking Schimel’s close ties to Musk and Republicans. She even dubbed her opponent "Elon Schimel" in a debate. Schimel countered by painting Crawford as soft on crime and beholden to liberal donors, warning she would push for court rulings that would undercut the GOP’s legislative power.

Crawford’s 10-year term replaces retiring liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, preserving the court’s 4–3 liberal tilt. With no liberal seats up for election until 2028, the victory ensures Democratic-aligned justices will control the state’s highest court for years to come—a pivotal factor heading into the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election.

What they're saying:

On Monday, Trump hinted as to why the outcome of the race was important. The court can decide election-related laws and settle disputes over future election outcomes.

"Wisconsin’s a big state politically, and the Supreme Court has a lot to do with elections in Wisconsin," he told reporters in the Oval Office. "Winning Wisconsin’s a big deal, so therefore the Supreme Court choice … it’s a big race."

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