In PEWAUKEE, Wis., the news broke on Tuesday night declaring Susan Crawford, a liberal candidate, victorious in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election. Not long after, Brad Schimel, the conservative candidate, conceded defeat through a phone call to Crawford. At his election night gathering, Schimel took to the stage to acknowledge his loss, despite some supporters expressing disappointment, with one even calling his opponent a “cheater.”
However, Schimel promptly dismissed the accusation, urging acceptance of the results. Shortly after, he returned to the stage, embracing a passion of his—performing with his classic rock cover band. This concession, albeit marked with an unusual musical performance, is noteworthy in a political climate where allegations against election integrity have become rampant.
Disputes over election results have become common, with numerous politicians from both parties making unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud and harassing election officials. The movement gained traction with former President Donald Trump’s unfounded challenges to the 2020 election results, including a failed lawsuit in Wisconsin. In this climate, Schimel’s straightforward concession was a commendable departure from the norm.
On stage, as the night’s results became apparent with Crawford’s lead widening to ten percentage points, Schimel openly accepted the outcome. Instead of contesting the results, which has been a trend among some Republicans recently, he chose to acknowledge defeat, mitigating the kind of baseless theory-sharing that followed the 2020 election loss suffered by Trump.
This level of acceptance contrasts with recent instances such as Wisconsin’s own Eric Hovde, who delayed his concession after losing a Senate race in 2022, and North Carolina’s ongoing recounted Supreme Court race where results are still contested. Even Trump, along with his close associates like Elon Musk, has continued to propagate false claims regarding his 2020 loss.
Musk, along with associated groups, invested significantly in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, financially incentivizing voter turnout, albeit anticipatively conceding the race while highlighting a victorious voter ID amendment. Amidst Schimel’s loss, Trump remained silent, celebrating instead the voter ID outcome on his Truth Social platform.
As Schimel’s supporters digested these developments, reactions varied. Some, such as Peter Bernegger, suggested an algorithmic manipulation of the election, while others like conspiracy theorist Alex Jones called the results fraudulent. Schimel’s supporters, however, praised his composed demeanor.
Russell Jones, an attorney, commended Schimel’s composure, emphasizing that this is how losses should be handled. Similarly, Adam Manka from La Crosse County’s Republican Party expressed concern over potential repercussions of a liberal Supreme Court but acknowledged his party’s defeat, calling it a moment of democratic expression.
Crawford, in an interview the following day, expressed her belief in concluding elections with grace and expressed the certainty that she would have acted the same way had the tables been turned. Observers like Ari Mittleman of the organization Keep Our Republic praised the event as an example for future candidates, likening elections to a football game with clear outcomes.
Back on stage with his band, Schimel remained upbeat, accepting the outcome in stride and even managing a light-hearted request for another beer. This display underscored the essence of democracy, capturing a moment where despite political differences, the process and results were embraced with civility.