All eyes are on Wisconsin this week as a pivotal and fiercely contested state Supreme Court election draws national attention — and controversy. The high-stakes race pits conservative Brad Schimel against liberal Susan Crawford, with both parties viewing it as a potential tipping point for the future of not just the state, but the nation.
At the heart of the drama? A fiery endorsement from President Donald Trump and a flood of money — including literal million-dollar checks — from billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk.
Trump, who returned to the White House in January, is using the Wisconsin race as a litmus test for his sweeping reforms. Since reclaiming the presidency, he’s gutted large swaths of the federal government, reshaped foreign policy, and waged economic battles on the global stage. Now, he’s looking to solidify his vision through judicial influence at the state level.
“A Schimel win changes everything,” political strategist Joanna Kline told reporters. “It shifts the court right and gives Trump the legal edge he wants going into 2026.”
That’s not just political spin. If Schimel secures a seat, the ideological balance of the Wisconsin Supreme Court would flip to a conservative majority — which could dramatically impact redistricting ahead of the crucial midterms. With the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly divided (218-213), control could swing with even minor shifts in key battleground states like Wisconsin.
Elon Musk, a vocal Trump backer, has injected staggering sums into the race. His America PAC has funneled over $12.2 million to Schimel’s campaign. Musk has also stunned political observers by handing out two checks worth $1 million each to lucky voters — and doling out $100 to those who sign his petition against what he calls “activist judges.”
Altogether, more than $90 million has been spent on the race, making it the most expensive judicial election in American history, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
Crawford, meanwhile, has pushed back hard, accusing Musk of trying to “buy a seat” on the state’s highest court to benefit his companies. A Tesla-related case involving dealership laws may soon be heard by the court — a fact that raises eyebrows given Musk’s deep financial involvement.
“She will be one of the most Liberal Judges ever elected, which would be a DISASTER for Wisconsin and, the United States of America,” Trump warned on social media Monday, also accusing Crawford of “letting child molesters and rapists off easy.”
While Musk drew a crowd of cheering supporters at a Green Bay rally, not all Wisconsinites are thrilled. At a pro-Crawford event, 65-year-old retired engineer Rob Patterson raised a sign with a chilling image of Musk giving a straight-armed salute, reading: “Our Supreme Court is not for sale.”
Also on Tuesday, two Republican-leaning House districts in Florida will vote to fill seats left vacant by Trump allies Mike Waltz and Matt Gaetz. But it’s Wisconsin’s dramatic judicial showdown — complete with billionaires, bombastic rhetoric, and breathtaking spending — that could shape the nation’s political future.
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