Crawford makes final pitch to voters during rally in Madison

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- State Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford held her final campaign rally in Madison ahead of Tuesday's election to wrap up a historic campaign and race that's captured the attention of voters nationwide.

"Let's get the vote out and let's win this election," Crawford told supporters at the Majestic Theatre in Madison. "This is critical. This is about our state Supreme Court and it's about our rights."

Crawford, a Dane County judge backed by Democrats, will face off against the conservative candidate Brad Schimel on April 1. The contest will decide whether liberals maintain their 4-3 advantage on the court or if conservatives regain control after losing it in 2023.

During the event, Crawford was joined by three liberal justices currently serving on the court, including Rebecca Dallet, Jill Karofsky, and outgoing Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, who announced she's not running for another 10-year term on the court.

Ben Wikler, chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, also joined the rally and emphasized how Tuesday's outcome could hinge on voter turnout in the battleground state.

"Sometimes our elections come down to a hairline," Wikler said. "In 2011, and in 2019, they came down to less than half of a percentage point."

Crawford also cast the race as a chance to push back against President Donald Trump's agenda and his advisor Elon Musk's influence in the race. Groups affiliated with Musk have spent more than $20 million backing Schimel and criticizing Crawford.

She also took aim at new cash incentives Musk's America PAC is offering Wisconsin voters who pose next to a photo depicting "Super Judge Brad Schimel."

It comes after Musk visited Green Bay on Sunday to hand out two $1 million checks to voters that signed his petition opposing activist judges.

"It's just wrong," Crawford told reporters. "I'm encouraging voters to really think twice about those temptations to accept some of those financial offers."

Over the weekend, Attorney General Josh Kaul attempted to block Musk from handing out more checks after awarding a Green Bay man $1 million earlier in the week. The state Supreme Court ultimately rejected Kaul's legal challenge that argued Musk's payouts were in violation of election bribery laws.