Elon Musk’s $21 million political gamble backfired spectacularly in Wisconsin, delivering a major blow to conservative efforts to flip the state’s Supreme Court. Democrats emerged victorious by a stunning 10-point margin, preserving their liberal majority on the court despite Trump-backed Musk pouring record amounts of cash into the most expensive judicial race in American history.
Musk’s Millions Fail to Sway Wisconsin Voters
Liberal Judge Susan Crawford decisively defeated conservative Brad Schimel in Wisconsin’s pivotal Supreme Court race, preserving the Democrats’ narrow majority despite unprecedented financial intervention. Musk’s America PAC spent over $21 million supporting Schimel, making this the most expensive judicial contest ever recorded in American history.
The defeat represents a significant setback for Musk, who has become increasingly involved in conservative politics since throwing his support behind President Trump. Schimel’s 10-point loss was even more dramatic than other Republican candidates on the same ballot, suggesting Musk’s high-profile involvement may have actually energized Democratic voters rather than helped conservatives.
Democrats Successfully Frame Election as Democracy vs. Billionaire Influence
Democrats effectively mobilized their base by portraying the election as a referendum on whether wealthy individuals could purchase judicial seats. Judge Crawford’s victory speech directly addressed this narrative, declaring that “Wisconsin stood up and said loudly that justice does not have a price, our courts are not for sale.”
Elon Musk’s candidate faced a resounding loss in a Wisconsin judicial race despite pouring millions into the campaign. Susan Crawford, the Democrat-backed candidate for the state's Supreme Court, won 55% of the vote, according to the Associated Press https://t.co/X3ConbjL6H pic.twitter.com/IvRV1sxTeT
— Bloomberg (@business) April 2, 2025
Musk’s controversial tactics included paying three Wisconsin voters $1 million each to sign a petition supporting increased voter turnout, drawing legal challenges from the state’s Democratic Attorney General. The tech billionaire also deployed an army of paid canvassers across Wisconsin, spending $6 million on door-to-door efforts to boost conservative turnout in what he characterized as a battle for “the fate of Western civilization.”
Trump Administration Faces Midterm Warning Signs
The Wisconsin result continues a pattern of Democratic success in turning out educated voters for down-ballot races during the Trump era. Political analysts suggest this outcome could signal potential challenges for Republicans in maintaining enthusiasm in less prominent elections, especially in swing states like Wisconsin that will be crucial in upcoming federal contests.
“The way Trump has singled out individuals and institutions has prevented coordination of people in opposition to him,” noted political scientist Brendan Nyhan, highlighting potential strategic weaknesses in the current Republican approach. Some Republican strategists privately questioned the wisdom of Musk’s massive financial commitment to a race that polling consistently showed leaning Democratic, especially given Schimel’s underperformance compared to other Republican candidates on the same ballot.
Democrats’ win in Wisconsin court race a big loss for Elon Musk https://t.co/SIvTCN8W5V
— KRQE News 13 (@krqe) April 2, 2025
The defeat comes as Musk has taken on increasingly visible roles in supporting President Trump’s administration and conservative causes nationwide. Despite the setback, the billionaire continues to wield enormous influence through his network of companies and his ability to mobilize significant financial resources for future political contests.
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Democrats’ win in Wisconsin court race also is a big loss for Elon Musk
Democrats’ win in Wisconsin court race also is a big loss for Elon Musk – ABC News