Waukesha County has long been an important part of statewide and national elections. Due to its population and size, its voting block has the ability to shift the outcomes of elections. Waukesha County is a member of the ‘WOW counties’, a group of three counties in southeastern Wisconsin that includes Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington counties. Traditionally, the WOW countys’ voting patterns favor Republicans, although this is not always the case.
In the 2024 general election, Waukesha voted overwhelmingly for Republican candidates such as Donald Trump and Eric Hovde. In the 2024 national Presidential election, the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris had the highest percentage of voter turnout since 1992. In the 2022 statewide election for Governor, Democratic candidate Tony Evers also saw higher voter turnout than he did in 2018.
The spring 2025 Wisconsin State Supreme Court race has garnered huge amounts of national interest. Donors have poured millions of dollars into the race thus far, including high profile names such as George Soros and Elon Musk. While Waukesha County plays a critical role in nearly every election because of its size as the third most populous county in Wisconsin, it’s massive voting pool is not the only reason its receiving so much attention in 2025.
The two Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates are Susan Crawford and Brad Schimel. Crawford, who typically leans left on the political spectrum, has been a circuit court judge in Dane County since 2018. Schimel, who typically leans right on the political spectrum, previously served as Wisconsin’s Attorney General but has now been a circuit court judge in Waukesha County since 2019.
Schimel’s close connection with Waukesha County has put the area under a microscope. For many, the way Schimel has managed cases in Waukesha County is seen as an indicator of how he will manage cases if elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The judicial choices made by Schimel since 2019 could be a precedent of how he may vote in the future. This correlation has caused many to examine the outcomes of his rulings. Crawford has attacked Schimel for his sentencing record, although Schimel has responded with claims of championing public safety through support from local law enforcement.
Schimel’s campaign has close ties with Waukesha County, meaning that its voter turnout is being carefully monitored. High profile groups have sent canvassers throughout Waukesha County encouraging citizens to vote in the upcoming election. Due to Schimel’s support base being primarily rooted in Waukesha County, many outside groups have targeted Waukesha County as a vital area. The ability for politically right groups to mobilize Schimel’s home field advantage in Waukesha could be a key indicator to the election’s statewide turnout.
