Wisconsin Voters Elect Susan Crawford, Delivering Setback to Trump and Musk Influence
MADISON, Wis. – In a historic and hard-fought contest, Wisconsin voters on Tuesday elected county judge Susan Crawford to the state Supreme Court, preserving a 4-3 liberal majority on the court. The outcome, widely viewed as an early referendum on President Donald Trump’s administration, was a significant blow to conservative forces—especially to Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, who had both thrown their considerable financial weight behind conservative challenger Brad Schimel.
Crawford won decisively, leading by 9 percentage points with a margin of approximately 191,000 votes, based on 88% of ballots counted. Schimel, a former Republican state attorney general and county judge, conceded in a telephone call and during a speech before his supporters.
“This race was about more than just a judicial seat—it was a contest between everyday Wisconsin values and the outsized influence of multi-billionaires,” Crawford told her jubilant supporters in Madison. “As a little girl growing up in Chippewa Falls, I never could have imagined that I’d be taking on the richest man in the world for justice in Wisconsin. And we won!”
The campaign emerged as the most expensive judicial contest in U.S. history, with more than $90 million spent by the candidates, state parties, and outside groups, according to figures from New York University’s Brennan Center. Musk and allied political groups funneled over $21 million to support Schimel. In framing the contest, Crawford directly pitted herself against what she described as “the influence of out-of-state billionaires.”
National Democrats hailed the victory as a rejection of the Trump-Musk alliance. “Tonight, the people of Wisconsin squarely rejected the influence of Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and billionaire special interests,” said Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee. The result is seen as a promising sign for national Democrats, who are eyeing potential gains ahead of their 2026 bid to reclaim the House of Representatives.
Not all voters agreed. In Genesee, retiree Gary Christenson backed Schimel, arguing, “If a liberal gets in there, they’re going to continue to try to destroy Trump’s efforts to downsize the government.” Yet many others in the state, like 26-year-old Madison resident West Roberts, emphasized that supporting “everyday people is more important than backing multi-billionaires.”
The stakes extend far beyond Wisconsin’s borders. The state Supreme Court is expected to rule on pivotal issues such as voting rights, election rules, and abortion access ahead of the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election. With Wisconsin’s razor-thin margin in November—Trump won the state by less than one percentage point—its top court could significantly influence national political dynamics, including redistricting efforts that might tilt the balance in the U.S. House.
Meanwhile, in a separate test of Trump’s appeal, two Florida Republicans secured wins in special elections to fill U.S. House vacancies created by cabinet departures. In one district that includes Daytona Beach, Republican state Senator Randy Fine defeated Democrat Josh Weil by about 14 points, while in a district around Pensacola, state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis beat Democrat Gay Valimont by nearly 15 points. These contests helped secure a narrow Republican majority in the House at 220-213, although both races were closely watched as barometers of the political climate.
Elon Musk, who has been deeply involved in Trump’s federal cost-cutting campaign through his self-styled “Department of Government Efficiency,” also played a prominent role in the Wisconsin race. Musk held a rally on Sunday night where his main super PAC distributed $1 million checks to two voters. The Tesla CEO, who spent more than $250 million to bolster Trump’s November performance, further attempted to sway voters on Tuesday by offering $100 incentives for photos of Schimel being publicly dismissed.
Musk warned that the state court’s upcoming decisions on redistricting could “determine the future of Western civilization,” as redrawn political maps might affect Trump’s ability to govern if the balance in the House shifts.
Crawford’s campaign also benefited from the backing of high-profile Democratic megadonors, including philanthropist George Soros and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, underscoring the national significance of the race.
With Wisconsin emerging as a critical battleground, the election’s implications are clear: voters have sent a strong message against the growing influence of Trump and billionaire special interests on the judicial system. As both state and national campaigns gear up for the next electoral cycles, all eyes will be on how these decisions shape the balance of power in America’s courts and legislatures.
