T
he substantial Republican triumph in last year’s elections will face its first major challenge this Tuesday during a special election for the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
This election has escalated into the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history, with funding nearing $100 million. Candidates Brad Schimel, who has received backing from Donald Trump, and liberal-supported Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, are vying for the position. The result will be pivotal in shaping the court’s supermajority, which currently has a liberal tilt.
The implications of the Wisconsin election are profound, potentially affecting critical national topics like abortion rights and congressional redistricting. The latter could significantly reshape the U.S. House of Representatives, where Republicans currently hold a slim majority of 218 to 213, with four vacant seats. Furthermore, a special election in Florida concerning positions held by National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and former Rep. Matt Gaetz has already placed Republican control at risk.
Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and CEO of X, along with his supporters, has reportedly donated around $20 million to support Schimel, even going so far as to hand out $1 million checks to two Wisconsin voters this past Sunday.
“If the [Wisconsin] Supreme Court is allowed to redraw the districts, they will gerrymander the lines, depriving Wisconsin of two Republican seats,” Musk stated on Sunday. “They will also work to undermine all the government reforms we are striving to accomplish for you, the American people.”
Wisconsin’s election day is set for April 1st. Here’s what you need to know.
Who are the candidates?
This election will critically influence the ideological landscape of the court in a pivotal state that voted for Trump in the 2024 presidential election but chose former President Joe Biden in 2020.
Schimel, a former Wisconsin Attorney General who markets himself as a “top cop” on his campaign website, has Musk’s support. He promises a stringent approach to crime and positions himself against “rogue judges across the nation who prioritize their extreme agendas over the law.”
He also enjoys the backing of Trump.
Crawford, Schimel’s opponent, is a Circuit Court Judge dedicated to upholding the fundamental rights and liberties of the people of Wisconsin as outlined in the constitution. With a past as both a prosecutor and a private attorney who represented Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, Crawford emphasizes her commitment to protecting essential rights that are under threat from a right-wing agenda.
She has received endorsements from four current justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, and organizations such as the Wisconsin Education Association Council and Emily’s List.
Why is Elon Musk so invested in this election?
Musk characterized the race as vital for the “future of civilization” during an America PAC event on Sunday and has played a major role in financing the election. Despite campaign contribution limits capping individual donations at $20,000, Musk has already contributed over $3 million to the Wisconsin Republican Party, with other entities financed by him injecting more than $20 million into the contest.
Crawford has publicly critiqued Musk’s involvement, stating, “Elon Musk is trying to buy himself a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. He wants to place someone there whom he thinks he can manipulate and gain access to.”
Moreover, Tesla is currently embroiled in a lawsuit regarding dealer licenses after its application was denied in 2024 due to a state law that forbids manufacturers from owning dealerships, as reported by Wisconsin Public Radio. This case could potentially land in the state’s Supreme Court.
Is Musk really giving out $1 million checks to voters?
On Sunday, Musk indeed handed out a million-dollar check to two registered voters in Wisconsin.
He previously adopted this tactic during the general election, offering a million-dollar prize to voters who registered in swing states. Legal analysts raised concerns about this strategy, as federal law prohibits financial incentives for voter registration.
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul filed a lawsuit on Friday to stop Musk from distributing such substantial payments to voters, although an appellate court declined his request.
Is George Soros involved in this election?
Philanthropist George Soros, a well-known liberal donor frequently targeted by right-wing conspiracy theories, has contributed $2 million to the Democratic Party in Wisconsin. Musk attributed disruptions during a speech in Wisconsin to Soros, claiming it was “inevitable that a few Soros operatives would be in the audience.”
