Wisconsin rejects Musk’s influence as liberals secure supreme court victory

In a decisive rebuke of billionaire influence in politics, Wisconsin voters handed a significant victory to liberal judge Susan Crawford in the state’s Supreme Court election, rejecting the multimillion-dollar efforts of Elon Musk and conservative candidate Brad Schimel.

Crawford’s win cements a liberal majority on the court until at least 2028, preserving recent rulings on voter access, labor rights, and abortion.

Musk, an outspoken Trump ally, poured at least $22 million into the race—alongside millions in prize money for voters—in an attempt to tip the court’s balance back to a conservative majority. However, his spending spree was met with fierce resistance. Crawford directly challenged Musk’s involvement, calling him “my opponent” on the campaign trail. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin echoed this sentiment in a TV ad: “Elon Musk is out of control, and now the power-hungry billionaire is unloading millions to buy the Wisconsin Supreme Court.”

Despite Musk’s unprecedented financial intervention, Crawford secured a commanding 55% to 45% victory. Her strength in urban centers such as Dane and Milwaukee counties, along with her ability to flip at least nine Trump-voting counties, underscored the widespread rejection of Musk’s efforts. Milwaukee saw record-breaking turnout, with election officials running out of ballots at seven polling sites.

Liberal victories in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court have reshaped the legal landscape in recent years. The court struck down GOP-drawn gerrymandered maps, reinstated ballot drop boxes, and is set to rule on abortion rights. Milwaukee voting rights attorney T.R. Edwards hailed Crawford’s win as a defense against anti-democratic forces, saying, “Our courts will not simply be a rubber stamp for antidemocratic forces. This result makes me optimistic Wisconsin will continue to grow and build an inclusive democracy.”

The election, which shattered records with nearly $90 million in spending, marked the third straight Supreme Court victory for Wisconsin liberals. The previous high for a judicial race was $50 million, set just two years ago. Before 2023, no judicial contest in U.S. history had even reached $15 million. Musk alone accounted for about a quarter of the spending in this year’s race, outpacing total spending in any previous judicial election.

Nick Ramos, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Center, warned of the implications of such financial dominance. “Today should be a breaking point for our state. Even if your preferred candidate wins, every single Wisconsinite should be alarmed at this grotesque billionaire arms race,” he said. “The past two months have shown us a terrifying preview of what’s coming: an America where billionaires run the show, and the rest of us are just spectators.”

Musk’s involvement extended beyond financial contributions. He openly campaigned for Schimel, endorsed him alongside Trump, and attempted to rally support through controversial tactics. He gave $100 checks to petition signers opposing “activist judges” and awarded two $1 million prizes to voters with GOP connections. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul sued to block these payouts, citing state laws against exchanging money for votes, but the Wisconsin Supreme Court declined to intervene.

Schimel, a former Republican attorney general and current circuit court judge, embraced Musk’s and Trump’s endorsements, prominently displaying “TRUMP ENDORSED” on his campaign materials. He also pushed baseless election fraud conspiracy theories, including false claims about ballot drop boxes facilitating fraud on college campuses.

Conservatives have waged a long battle against drop boxes, which were banned by a previous conservative majority in 2022 before being reinstated under the liberal-led court in 2024. Crawford’s victory is expected to maintain their availability. “The bottom line is that we need to make sure eligible voters can exercise their right to vote without unnecessary hurdles,” Crawford said earlier this year.

Beyond voting rights, Crawford’s election will influence a range of key issues. The court will soon decide on the state’s 1849 abortion ban, which Schimel defended as “valid.” With the ban currently on hold, abortion remains legal in Wisconsin, but a Schimel victory could have jeopardized that status. Crawford, endorsed by Planned Parenthood, has a history of advocating for abortion rights.

Labor rights are also at stake. A lawsuit challenging Wisconsin’s Act 10—a Republican-backed law restricting collective bargaining rights—is making its way to the Supreme Court. Schimel defended the law as attorney general, while Crawford, in private practice, represented groups opposing it. Her victory is seen as a likely boost to unions.

Republicans did secure a win on a referendum to enshrine the state’s strict voter ID law in the constitution, a move likely to make future legal challenges more difficult. “That’s worrisome,” said Sam Liebert, a former elections clerk and director of All Voting is Local. “We could be on the path to requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration.”

With Crawford securing a 10-year term, she will be on the court for the 2030 redistricting process, a critical moment for Wisconsin’s political landscape. The state’s congressional maps remain heavily gerrymandered in favor of Republicans, and while the court recently overturned GOP-drawn legislative maps, national Democrats hope for further legal challenges.

Liberals also secured victories in other Wisconsin elections Tuesday. Jill Underly won re-election as school superintendent, and Democratic-backed candidates won county executive races in Dane and Winnebago counties.

While conservatives will now focus on defending their remaining Supreme Court seats in 2026, Crawford’s victory ensures that Wisconsin’s highest court remains in liberal hands for years to come.