On Tuesday, conservative Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel will square off against liberal Dane County Judge Susan Crawford to determine the ideological direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The race will likely determine how the high court rules on issues like abortion access and union rights in the coming months.

Today's consequential Wisconsin Supreme Court election will send a political signal far beyond the state's borders.

Political analyst Scott Spradling told News 9 that the special elections in Wisconsin and Florida gave voters the opportunity to respond to the new presidential administration at the polls.

Conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel has accused the current justices of "playing politics" by slow-walking a key abortion decision to keep the politically potent issue in play through the April 1 election — though one expert said the delay is "not yet remarkably unusual" compared to other cases.