Wisconsin voters elected Susan Crawford to the state Supreme Court, according to projections by the Associated Press, preserving the court’s 4-3 liberal majority. This outcome is viewed as a setback for President Donald Trump and his supporter Elon Musk, who had invested millions in favor of Crawford’s conservative opponent, Brad Schimel, a former Republican state attorney general. The election emerged as a significant early assessment of Trump’s presidency, becoming the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history, with over $90 million spent by candidates, state parties, and outside organizations as reported by New York University’s Brennan Center.
Crawford, currently a county judge, garnered extensive support from prominent Democratic figures, including billionaire philanthropist George Soros and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. In contrast, Musk and affiliated political groups contributed more than $21 million to Schimel’s campaign.
Meanwhile, in Florida, two Republican candidates won their special elections to fill U.S. House vacancies caused by Trump’s cabinet appointments, which has implications for Trump’s popularity. These victories expanded the Republicans’ House majority to 220-213. While it was anticipated that Republicans would easily secure both seats, attention was focused on the Democrats’ potential performance.
In a race that included Daytona Beach, Republican state Senator Randy Fine triumphed over Democrat Josh Weil, a public school educator, leading by approximately 14 points. This was a notable shift from the previous election, where the seat was won by Trump’s National Security Advisor Michael Waltz by 33 points. In another Florida race near Pensacola, Republican Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis defeated Democrat Gay Valimont, an advocate for gun violence prevention, with a margin of nearly 15 points, following Valimont’s significant loss in the prior election.
Wisconsin’s Supreme Court is expected to deliver significant rulings on voting rights and election regulations leading up to the pivotal 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential election, as the state remains a crucial battleground. In November, Trump narrowly won Wisconsin by less than one percentage point, the closest margin nationally. The court may also address abortion rights and reconsider a Republican-backed law that limits collective bargaining for public employee unions.
Elon Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency overseeing Trump’s cost-cutting initiatives, has become a prominent figure in the election. He hosted a rally where his super PAC distributed $1 million checks to two voters, prompting Wisconsin’s Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul to file a lawsuit to block these payments, citing a violation of state anti-bribery laws. The state Supreme Court chose not to take up the matter shortly before the rally.
Musk, who invested over $250 million to support Trump’s election, incentivized grassroots efforts by offering $20 to volunteers for each voter they recruited. He also introduced a $100 reward for voters who photographed themselves with Schimel’s image while posing with a thumbs-up gesture. Musk has expressed that “the future of Western civilization” hangs in the balance, as the court may decide on redistricting processes that could influence the balance of power in the closely divided U.S. House of Representatives and Trump’s governance.
Democrats are trying to spotlight Musk’s involvement, noting his potential personal interest in the court’s decisions, especially since Tesla is involved in ongoing litigation against Wisconsin’s law restricting auto manufacturers from establishing dealerships. Musk has not commented regarding the allegations of personal stakes in the election’s outcome.
