Official Working Families’ Guide to the Supreme Court Election on April 1 st, 2025
Dear Reader,
For years, Wisconsin’s working families have been struggling. Good-paying jobs have disappeared, wages aren’t keeping up with the cost of living, and it’s getting harder and harder to afford healthcare and retire comfortably. In Madison, too many elected politicians seem more concerned with helping wealthy mega-corporations than everyday folks. Now more than ever, working families need a voice on the job and in the halls of power.
On April 1st, we have a chance to elect a judge to the Supreme Court who will stand up for Wisconsin workers, not special interests. This election is crucial for the future of our state—the high court will soon decide on cases that directly affect our individual rights and freedoms, including the right to unionize and the freedom to negotiate for better pay and working conditions.
We need to elect a judge who will stand with us for fair wages, affordable healthcare, and a strong middle class. Our leaders must recognize that we are all better off when public service workers have a say in their workplace—it means better schools, better public services, and better wages for all Wisconsinites.
This is the first in a series of newsletters exploring key issues that could be decided by the state Supreme Court and how they will impact workers like us. See inside to learn more about Judge Susan Crawford and Judge Brad Schimel, the two candidates for Wisconsin Supreme Court, and where they stand on workers’ rights.
In Solidarity,
The In Union Team
MEET THE CANDIDATES FOR WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT
JUDGE SUSAN CRAWFORD
Dane County Circuit Court
Susan Crawford has practiced law for two decades, serving as a prosecutor, an Assistant Attorney General, and chief legal counsel to former Gov. Jim Doyle. She served as a private-practice attorney until being elected to the Dane County Circuit Court in 2018, where she now serves as a judge.
Defended teachers, firefighters, and nurses in court to protect their pay, benefits, and bargaining rights.
Worked to preserve healthcare funding so that workers and retirees can afford necessary care while maintaining continuous coverage.
Represented working families, ensuring everyone has a fair shot at a good-paying job. Has stood up for the right to organize, so workers can bargain for better wages, benefits, and a voice on the job.
Backed by Wisconsin’s hardworking families and their unions, including Wisconsin AFL-CIO, Wisconsin Education Association Council, Wisconsin Laborers District Council, and IBEW Wisconsin State Conference.
JUDGE BRAD SCHIMEL
Waukesha County Circuit Court
Brad Schimel began his career as a prosecutor and in 2006 was elected Waukesha County District Attorney. In 2014 he ran for Attorney General as a Republican and was elected to a four-year term. After losing reelection, he was appointed to the Waukesha County Circuit Court in 2018.
Fair Wages & Benefits
Affordable Healthcare
Union Rights
Defended Act 10, which gutted worker pay, pensions, and bargaining power—forcing public employees to take home less while corporate donors got tax breaks.
Tried to overturn the Affordable Care Act, threatening healthcare for over 310,000 Wisconsinites and raising costs for working families.
Weakened unions by defending laws that force them to provide services for free, making it harder for unions to protect workers.
Endorsements
Bankrolled by Elon Musk and dark-money billionaires who want to weaken unions, cut Social Security, and dismantle Medicare.
Sources: WJFW, 2/10/2025; Pines Bach LLP, 4/26/2013; WCPT 820 Radio, 1/15/2025; The Daily Cardinal, 2/9/2025; WisPolitics, 1/16/2025, 1/31/2025, 11/26/2024; Wisconsin Education Association Council, 11/27/2024; FOX6, 4/18/2016; Wisconsin Public Radio, 4/18/2016; Spectrum News 1, 12/4/2024; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1/23/2025, 2/17/2025; Forbes, 2/18/2025, 10/16/2024; AP News, 11/30/2023; Wisconsin Watch, 2/6/2025; OpenSecrets, 9/15/2023; The Washington Post, 1/31/2025; ProPublica, 2/22/2025
ISSUE SPOTLIGHT:
Act 10 Took Away Your Rights. This Election Can Bring Them Back.
In 2011, Wisconsin workers lost their voice on the job. Teachers, nurses, and everyday people saw their paychecks shrink while the rich got richer. Now, we have a chance to change that. This spring, we can elect a judge to the Supreme Court who will stand up for working families and restore the rights we deserve. Imagine: teachers getting the resources they need to educate our kids, nurses getting the pay they deserve, and everyday folks finally getting a fair shake.
Act 10 took away our bargaining power, but now we can overturn it. We can restore our right to negotiate for fair wages, good healthcare, and strong retirement security. Let’s make sure working people have a seat at the table again. On April 1st, let’s vote for a judge who stands with working families, not the wealthy few.
ACT 10: How Wisconsin’s Workers Lost Their Rights—and How We Can Win Them Back
2011
2015 – 2022
Then-Gov. Scott Walker launches Act 10, effectively eliminating public-sector unions in Wisconsin. Teachers, nurses, and public workers lose collective bargaining rights and are forced to pay more for healthcare and retirement. Susan Crawford represents public-sector workers in court, arguing that Act 10 is unconstitutional and “clearly aimed at crippling public employee unions.”
2014
Wisconsin Supreme Court’s conservative majority upholds Act 10, dealing a devastating blow to working families.
2015
Legislature expands anti-union laws with “right-to-work” legislation that further weakens unions in the private sector. Brad Schimel, as Attorney General, aggressively defends these laws in court.
Union membership plummets as Act 10 devastates worker protections. From 2000 – 2022, Wisconsin experiences the nation’s largest decline in unionized workers. As union membership declines, so do wages and working conditions for all workers. Wisconsin’s private-sector employment rates and typical household incomes lag far behind their neighbors in Minnesota.
2024
Dane County Circuit Judge Jacob Frost rules Act 10 unconstitutional, stating it violates workers’ rights. The decision is appealed and will head to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
APRIL 1 ST, 2025
The Supreme Court election will decide the fate of workers’ rights. If Brad Schimel wins, the court will be controlled by an anti-labor majority for the next ten years. If Susan Crawford wins, Wisconsin will finally have a pro-worker majority on the Supreme Court.
8/26/2011; Wisconsin DOJ Press Release, 7/12/2017; Wisconsin State Legislature, “2015 Wisconsin Act 1,” 3/10/2015; CAP Action, 11/15/2017
Susan Crawford discusses Act 10 on PBS Wisconsin’s Here & Now, 8/26/2011.
Brad Schimel defends anti-labor laws as Attorney General. Photo: AP Photo/Andy Manis.
In Union is an organization of, by, and for working people that provides straightforward, fact-based information to more than two million people who trust us to be on their side regarding topics like the economy and healthcare. In Union doesn’t endorse, lobby, or take contributions from politicians or candidates—and we don’t contribute to them. Instead, we tackle issues important to working-class families, ways to hold politicians accountable, and tips to save money—and we always provide our sources, so you can check the facts for yourself. For more information and a complete list of our funders, visit www.inunionusa.com.
WISCONSIN’S SUPREME COURT IS ABOUT TO MAKE BIG DECISIONS THAT AFFECT OUR JOBS, OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR COMMUNITIES.
We need a judge who will stand up for everyday Wisconsinites. That’s why we’re highlighting the records of each candidate on the issues that matter most—keeping our communities safe, protecting our families, and ensuring a strong economy. Let’s elect a judge who shares our values and will create positive change.
Learn about the candidates’ records on issues that matter to you, like protecting workers’ rights and making sure everyone gets a fair shot. We’ll be diving deeper into their records on healthcare and holding multinational corporations accountable in future newsletters. IT’S TIME TO UNITE FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS!
Talk to your coworkers and neighbors. Talk to your family. TELL THEM: This election is about our pay, our benefits, and our future.
