The Democrats pulled off a decisive victory in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race on Tuesday, with liberal judge Susan Crawford beating her opponent, Brad Schimel, by a clear 9-point margin.
That was, despite heavy investment from conservative donors, including more than $25 million from tech billionaire Elon Musk in support of Schimel, making it the most-expensive judicial election in American history. Crawford’s victory preserves the court’s 4-3 liberal majority, safeguarding control of one of the most politically consequential state supreme courts in the nation.
But that was not the only win the Democrats pulled off on Tuesday night. The party also scored a number of key victories in local elections, unseating Republican-backed incumbents in Illinois and Wisconsin. In Aurora, Alderman-at-Large John Laesch defeated GOP-aligned Mayor Richard Irvin with support from prominent Democrats. In Wisconsin, former state Representative Gordon Hintz ousted Republican-endorsed County Executive Joe Doemel, while Democratic-backed Jill Underly won reelection as the state’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, defeating GOP-supported Brittany Kinser.
Why It Matters
The recent string of victories marks a crucial rebound for the Democratic Party following its significant losses in the 2024 election, when Donald Trump saw a surge in vote share across nearly every state. The Republicans also flipped control of the Senate and narrowly regained the House.
These wins provide a major boost for Democrats, strengthening their momentum as they look ahead to the 2026 midterms, where they aim to retake both the House and the Senate.
What To Know
The Democrats saw a number of victories in local elections on Tuesday night.
Republican-Aligned Aurora Mayor Loses to Challenger
Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, who ran in the GOP gubernatorial primary in 2022, conceded Tuesday evening to his challenger, Alderman-at-large John Laesch.
“It is with a heavy, heavy heart, heavy heart that I accept that I’m not going to continue on as mayor of this city. Absolute pride to be this city’s leader. Not about me; it’s about all of you,” Irvin said.
Irvin, who was first elected as mayor in 2017, garnered 47.5 percent of the vote to Laesch’s 52.5 percent, according to the unofficial results available late Tuesday night.
While Aurora’s elections are nonpartisan, the Democratic Party of Illinois funded anti-Irvin campaign messaging independently of the Laesch campaign; the candidate himself was endorsed by U.S. Democratic Representatives Jesús “Chuy” García and Delia Ramirez, as well as former Governor Pat Quinn and state Senator Karina Villa.
Republican-Backed County Executive Unseated in Winnebago
Gordon Hintz, a member of the Democratic Party who was a Wisconsin State Assembly representative from 2007 to 2023, defeated incumbent Joe Doemel to become the next Winnebago County executive on Tuesday.
According to unofficial returns, Hintz had 53 percent of the vote to Doemel’s 47 percent.
Doemel was endorsed by Wisconsin Young Republicans for his “conservative leadership.”
The victory came in a county that Trump won by 4.8 percentage points in November.
In a statement, Hintz thanked the voters of Winnebago County for entrusting him with the position, calling it a “responsibility I take seriously.”
“We ran a strong campaign and worked hard to engage voters throughout the county and I hope to take that same approach when in office,” Hintz said.
Republicans Fail in Wisconsin Superintendent Race
Also in Wisconsin, Department of Public Instruction Superintendent Brittany Kinser has conceded to current Superintendent Jill Underly. While the race was officially nonpartisan, Kinser had the backing of many Republicans in Wisconsin, while Underly was endorsed by Wisconsin Democrats. They highlighted her record of expanding mental health services for schools and standing against attacks on public education, libraries, and LGBTQ+ youth.
According to unofficial results from The Associated Press and with nearly 86 percent of districts reporting, Underly had 958,918 votes, or 52.7 percent, while Kinser had 860,968 votes, or 47.3 percent.
Kinser thanked supporters and voters during her election watch party in Wauwatosa Tuesday night, saying, “We wanted so much better for our kids and I, you know, it didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to, but I’m just so grateful for all of you here.”
Kinser, a supporter of private school vouchers and the state’s charter school program, has been critical of Underly’s decision to change standardized testing benchmarks and scoring thresholds for school district performance report cards last year. “It is a reading crisis and I’m so glad we were able to elevate this reading crisis, so that all of you who are listening to me now will get in this fight for our children,” Kinser said Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, Underly expressed gratitude for her victory, calling it a win for those who believe in the power of public education.
“This victory belongs to all of us who believe in the power of public education. It’s a testament to our shared commitment to ensuring that every child in Wisconsin has access to a high-quality education, regardless of their ZIP code. Together, we’ve championed the belief that public dollars should fund public schools, and tonight, that belief has been reaffirmed,” Underly said in a statement.
“I am deeply honored and humbled by the trust you’ve placed in me to continue serving as your State Superintendent of Public Instruction.”
Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, hailed Underly’s win in a statement released Tuesday night.
“With her steadfast commitment to Wisconsin’s kids, educators, and public schools, Dr. Jill Underly richly earned her reelection victory tonight. Jill is the champion that our kids need leading the Department of Public Instruction, bringing new ideas to the table to ensure the best educational outcomes for students across Wisconsin,” Wikler said in the statement.
What People Are Saying
Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, wrote on X: “Tonight, Democrats remembered that they can actually win. That hope is a renewable resource. That, through hard work, they can ensure democracy’s survival.”
He added: “Democracy is alive and roaring in the Badger State. In a moment of national darkness, Wisconsin voters lit a candle. Let the lesson of Wisconsin’s election ring out across the country.”
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams said in a statement: “Wisconsinites’ next opportunity to rebuke GOP extremism and affirm Democratic leadership is the state legislative elections in 2026. After several cycles of laying the groundwork to build power in Wisconsin, the DLCC and state Democrats made massive gains in 2024 under fair maps. You can bet we’re laser-focused on finishing the job and flipping both chambers this cycle.”
What Happens Next
In 2026, Americans will head to the polls to elect new senators and representatives. The Democrats have vowed to flip both chambers, which are currently held by the Republicans.
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