Posted on Wednesday, April 2, 2025
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by Alan Jamison
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6 Comments
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Voters headed to the polls in Wisconsin and Florida on Tuesday to decide several key contests viewed as political barometers for the country five months after Republicans’ sweeping victories in November 2024.
By far, the most high-profile contest was the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, where Republican-backed candidate Brad Schimel was facing off against Democrat-backed candidate Susan Crawford. With votes still being counted, Crawford is the projected winner, leading by about nine points.
As AMAC Newsline reported last week, the race was the most expensive judicial campaign in American history, with more than $100 million in expenditures. While the late involvement of Elon Musk drew most of the media attention, ultra-wealthy liberal donors flooded Crawford’s campaign with cash.
The court will now have a solid liberal majority for at least three years, likely leading to more far-left rulings on issues like abortion and electoral laws. Wisconsin Democrats have strongly suggested that they plan to challenge the state’s congressional map, potentially allowing the liberal supreme court to redraw district lines to be more favorable to Democrats. According to Wisconsin Public Radio, Crawford’s campaign called the election a “chance to put two more House seats in play for 2026” in a January donor call.
As discouraging as that result was for conservatives, Wisconsin voters did overwhelmingly pass Question 1, which amends the state constitution to require a photo ID to vote. About 63 percent of voters supported the amendment.
“VOTER I.D. JUST APPROVED IN WISCONSIN ELECTION,” President Donald Trump said on Truth Social. “Democrats fought hard against this, presumably so they can CHEAT. This is a BIG WIN FOR REPUBLICANS, MAYBE THE BIGGEST WIN OF THE NIGHT. IT SHOULD ALLOW US TO WIN WISCONSIN, LIKE I JUST DID IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, FOR MANY YEARS TO COME!”
“This was the most important thing,” Elon Musk added on X in response to the victory.
In Florida, Republicans also won two special congressional elections, although the results were closer than might have been expected.
In Florida’s 1st Congressional District, Republican Jimmy Patronis won the seat previously held by Matt Gaetz, overcoming Democrat Gay Valimont. Patronis secured a decisive victory despite Valimont raising $6.5 million for her campaign compared to Patronis’s $2.1 million.
The more worrisome result came in Florida’s 6th Congressional District, where Republican Randy Fine retained the seat formerly held by Trump National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, defeating Democrat Josh Weil. While Fine won by about 14 points, that was well off the pace of Trump’s 30-point victory in the district last November. Weil also significantly outraised Fine, bringing in $9.7 million compared to Fine’s $561,000.
Democrats have sought to spin the result as an indictment on President Trump, but other Republican leaders have contested that narrative. Ahead of the election, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he did not expect Fine to come close to matching Trump’s margin.
“Do I think they will get close to the margins that President Trump received? No,” DeSantis said. “Is that a reflection of the President? Absolutely not, that is a reflection of the candidate running in that race.” Fine has notably clashed with DeSantis in the past.
“Today, voters reminded the world that Florida is Trump Country. I won because of @realDonaldTrump’s endorsement and his call for voters to send me to be a warrior for his America First agenda,” Fine said on X after his victory. “In my visits to the polls today, I spoke to voters who waited for more than an hour because they wanted the country to know they still stand with President Trump.”
“BOTH FLORIDA HOUSE SEATS HAVE BEEN WON, BIG, BY THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE,” Trump added on Truth Social. “THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT, AS ALWAYS, PROVED FAR GREATER THAN THE DEMOCRATS’ FORCES OF EVIL. CONGRATULATIONS TO AMERICA!!!”
The next key electoral date this year is November 4, when voters in New Jersey and Virginia will head to the polls for gubernatorial and legislative elections.
Alan Jamison is the pen name of a political writer with extensive experience writing for several notable politicians and news outlets.
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