- Elon Musk invested more than $21 million to support Schimmel for the Wisconsin Supreme Court
- Musk offered rewards to voters who signed petitions of support, sparking controversyDemocratic candidate Susan Crawford defeated conservative candidate Brad Schimmel in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, maintaining a narrow liberal majority on the court.
However, the main loser of those elections was the billionaire and associate of the President of the United States of America, Elon Musk, who invested more than 21 million dollars to support Schimel.
Musk not only financially supported Schimmel, but also offered rewards to voters who signed petitions of support, the agency said.
He paid the three $1 million to sign the petition, and his organization offered $100 for every voter who signed against the “activist judges.”In addition, Musk paid $20 to anyone who signed up to be a volunteer.
His actions have sparked controversy, and Democrats have used him to create a narrative that Musk tried to “buy” the election.
Democrats also pointed out that it is an attack on democratic values and fair elections, claiming that the court system is not for sale and that Wisconsin “refused the attack on democracy.”
Crawford’s victory is a bright spot for Democrats
Crawford won by a wide margin, and her result was better than many expected, AP said. With about three-quarters of the votes counted, Crawford won 55 percent of the vote, while Schimmel had about 45 percent, “CBS” reported.Although the election was officially nonpartisan, Crawford’s victory is a bright spot for Democrats in Wisconsin and nationally, as voters rejected a candidate endorsed by the president in the first major political test of Trump’s second term.
Crawford and her Democratic allies also tried to turn the election into a referendum on Trump ally Musk, who has poured millions of dollars of his own fortune into the race. The contest soon became the most expensive judicial campaign in US history.
The fight against Musk, the richest man in the world
At a victory rally in Madison on Tuesday night, Crawford thanked her supporters, saying their votes sent a message to the country.
– Today Wisconsinites rejected an unprecedented attack on our democracy, our fair elections and our Supreme Court. And the people of Wisconsin have said loud and clear that justice has no price – our courts are not for sale, she said.
Crawford did not mention Musk by name, but alluded to the defeat of his financial power in this race.– As a girl from Chippewa Falls, I never thought I’d be fighting the richest man in the world for justice in Wisconsin – and I won! – she said with loud applause from the audience.
Crawford said that Schimel called her and admitted defeat, Croatian “Indeks” reported.
– I thank him. He was very kind and I wish him and his family all the best – she added.
Why are Wisconsin Supreme Court elections important?
In a divided state — Gov. Tony Evers is a Democrat and Republicans control the Legislature — the Supreme Court has become the ultimate arbiter of policies that affect the daily lives of Wisconsinites, including whether a 19th-century law banning most abortions can be enforced today.And since Wisconsin is a swing state in presidential elections, the Supreme Court could have the final say in deciding election disputes.
Since liberals won a 4-3 majority two years ago, the court has handed out several major victories for Democrats — overturning a 2022 ruling that almost completely banned the use of outdoor ballot boxes and overturning legislative maps drawn by Republicans.
The court may soon revisit the boundaries of congressional districts that have given Republicans a disproportionate advantage — they hold six of the eight seats, even though Wisconsin’s elections are almost always extremely close.
Crawford’s term will last 10 years.
