Madison Reporter

Wisconsin's largest teachers' union, which opposes school choice measures in the state, has endorsed Judge Susan Crawford for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. 

The union, known as the Wisconsin Education Association (WEAC), announced the endorsement in a press release published on Urban Milwaukee.

Crawford, currently a Dane County Circuit Court Judge, is running in the April 1 state Supreme Court election against former Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel, who is now a Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge.

Wisconsin Family Action said in January that electing Schimel to the state's high court is "critical for the school choice movement, as it could determine the Court's ideological balance until 2028. Though Wisconsin is currently one of 32 states without an Education Savings Account (ESA) program, school choice began in Wisconsin with the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program in 1989. 

"As active members of our community, your participation in these elections will be crucial in shaping the future of school choice in Wisconsin, the birthplace of this movement," said Marv Munyon, President of WI Family Action.

In 2023, WEAC supported a lawsuit it by the Minocqua Brewing Company Super Political Action Committee (SuperPAC) that challenged Wisconsin's school choice program. The teachers' union has also lobbied the Wisconsin legislature to oppose school choice, according to the union's X account.  

Schimel's campaign posted a Facebook post marking "School Choice Week" in January, saying that, "If Susan Crawford wins, school choice doesn't stand a chance." The Schimel campaign web site also says, "If the left wins in April they will eliminate school choice."