Some Republicans questioning state party leadership after Democratic wins in Supreme Court, DPI races add to recent string

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Many Wisconsin Republicans are frustrated with party leadership after more losses in statewide elections.

Despite record turnout and record funding, conservative candidate Brad Schimel lost the Wisconsin Supreme Court race by double digits to liberal Susan Crawford. Conservative Brittany Kinser also lost the race for DPI Superintendent to current Superintendent Jill Underly.

That record turnout was the product of unprecedented national attention.

More than $100 million was pumped into the Supreme Court race from around the country. Elon Musk alone contributed more than $25 million to Schimel's losing campaign.

That resounding loss -despite having record money to work with- has many Republicans frustrated with the state party's strategy.

Hilario Deleon is the chair of the Republican Party of Milwaukee County. After Schimel conceded Tuesday night, he told us, "There might need to be a complete overhaul at our state party. We'll see what happens."

Some Republicans licked their wounds. Schimel supporter Amy Tuetenberg of Milwaukee told us, "I was actually pretty shocked. I was actually pretty hopeful because of how much early voting was up."

Other Republicans looked for who's to blame.

Roger Adams is a Republican, and a trustee for the Village of Waukesha. He said, "We need a change at the top, as far as the Republican Party is concerned."

Conservative Supreme Court Justice Brian Hagedorn narrowly won election in 2019, Republican Senator Ron Johnson won his re-election in 2022, and President Trump convincingly won the state in 2024.

But Schimel's and Kinser's losses Tuesday are the latest in a recent string of statewide elections in which Democratic candidates have beaten their Republican opponents.

Among the Democratic victories:

• 2018: Tony Evers' win in the Governor's race
• 2018: Josh Kaul's win in the Attorney General's race
• 2018: Rebecca Dallet's win in the 2018 State Supreme Court race
• 2020: Jill Karofsky's win in the State Supreme Court race
• 2021: Jill Underly's win in the race for Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction
• 2022: Evers' win in the Governor's race
• 2022: Kaul's win in the Attorney General's race
• 2023: Janet Protasiewicz's win in the State Supreme Court race
• 2025: Susan Crawford's win in the State Supreme Court race
• 2025: Underly's win in the race for Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction

Brian Schimming has served as Wisconsin GOP party chair since December of 2022. He points to legislative wins and local wins as key successes.

But many are frustrated with the lack of success in the statewide races. Adams asked, "When are we going to get a leadership in the Republican Party that knows how to win these local elections?"

We asked Deleon if the losses were a Schimming problem. He said, "I think the Chairman needs to reflect on what he's doing in this state."

On Wednesday, Schimming acknowledged the effects of this election are "huge."

He said turnout has always been a challenge in spring elections, and this year Democrats turned out more voters. "I think their base was really riled up," Schimming said.

He said candidates in state races always run their own campaigns, then the state party helps in the field.

Schimming said the Wisconsin GOP did a tremendous amount of work for Schimel.

But it wasn't enough.

We asked Schimming if he's heard any concern with his leadership or the direction the party is going. He responded, "The party, frankly, did a lot more than it's ever done in races of this nature."

In person early voting was up in every county in the state compared to the 2023 court race. Absentee ballots were up in all but one county.

Record-shattering funding drove the interest, but many Democrats and Republicans think Elon Musk did not help the GOP.

Schimming is unsure if Musk was a liability. "I don't think we really know that at this point. He's nationally recognized, no doubt about that, a lot of folks in our party admire him."

After the latest losses, some in the party want to change their approach.

Adams said, "You need to get ruthless."

We asked Milwaukee County GOP chair Hilario Deleon if he's interested in leading the party one day. He said if the people want him in a leadership position then so be it, but Deleon said that's not his focus right now.

The state GOP convention will be held May 16 in Rothschild, just outside Wausau.