Donald Trump’s influence in Wisconsin suffered a significant setback on Tuesday when voters elected liberal judge Susan Crawford to the state’s Supreme Court, despite heavy backing from Trump’s billionaire advisor, Elon Musk, who spent millions to sway the race.
Crawford won decisively, defeating Trump-endorsed Brad Schimel by a large margin, with over 95 percent of the vote counted, according to US media. In her victory speech, Crawford declared, “Wisconsin stood up and said loudly that justice does not have a price.”
Republicans had heavily invested in flipping the Wisconsin state Supreme Court, which plays a key role in decisions like voting district boundaries. Musk contributed $25 million to the effort and made a personal visit to the state. Musk criticized the judiciary, accusing the left of “corruption of the judiciary” in a post on his social media platform.
Trump, on the other hand, seemed to downplay the outcome, focusing instead on a Wisconsin ballot initiative requiring voters to present photo identification. He also celebrated two House races in Florida, where conservative districts remained in Republican hands, though the margins were narrower than in previous elections.
Musk had actively campaigned for Schimel, even giving out money to those who signed petitions against “activist judges,” a strategy reminiscent of his role in Trump’s 2020 election efforts. Progressive figures like Senator Bernie Sanders spoke out against Musk’s influence, with Sanders saying Wisconsin had “defeated the wealthiest person on earth” in the election.
In Florida, two special elections for vacant US House seats were called in favor of Trump-backed Republicans Randy Fine and Jimmy Patronis. Trump touted these wins on social media, taking credit for his party’s success.
Despite the Florida victories, Democrats saw the Wisconsin result as a missed opportunity for a comeback. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed optimism, noting the closer margins in Florida could indicate vulnerability for Republicans in future elections.
The Wisconsin race, already the most expensive judicial contest in US history, saw over $53 million spent by Schimel and his backers, including $12.2 million from Musk’s America PAC. Crawford’s campaign spent an estimated $45.1 million.
In the wake of Crawford’s victory, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota celebrated the result, saying, “Wisconsin beat the billionaire.” Musk’s role in the election sparked significant resistance, with protesters