In a landmark decision with national implications, liberal Judge Susan Crawford has secured a decisive victory in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, defeating conservative candidate Brad Schimel. This outcome maintains the court’s 4-3 liberal majority, positioning it to influence critical issues such as abortion rights, union organizing, and legislative redistricting.
The election garnered unprecedented attention and financial contributions, becoming the most expensive judicial contest in U.S. history with total spending approaching $100 million. Notably, tech billionaire Elon Musk invested over $20 million through affiliated groups to support Schimel’s campaign. This substantial financial involvement transformed the race into a referendum on Musk’s influence in state politics.
Musk’s prominent role in the campaign became a focal point for Democrats, who leveraged his involvement to mobilize their base. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) launched a series of ads in Wisconsin newspapers, accusing Musk of attempting to “buy” a seat on the court for Schimel. The ads featured stark imagery and bold messages, including one stating, “Wisconsin is not for sale.” DNC Chair Ken Martin emphasized, “Billionaires have no business deciding our elections.”
Judge Crawford herself highlighted Musk’s outsized influence during the campaign, referring to her opponent as “Elon Schimel” in debates and public appearances. She asserted that Musk had “basically taken over Brad Schimel’s campaign,” pointing to the timing of Musk’s financial support coinciding with Tesla’s legal challenges in Wisconsin.
The election’s outcome has led to widespread criticism and mockery of Musk’s attempt to sway the judicial race. Analysts suggest that his involvement may have backfired, energizing Democratic voters and contributing to Crawford’s nearly 10-point margin of victory. This result serves as a cautionary tale about the limits of billionaire influence in local elections and underscores the electorate’s resistance to external interference.
“He tried to spend his unlimited resources to buy a state Supreme Court seat in Wisconsin,” House Minority Leader Hakeen Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said on Tuesday night. “And it failed spectacularly.”
Jeffries pressed Republicans to walk away from Musk, whom he called an “unelected, unpopular, unhinged and unAmerican billionaire puppet-master.”