Elon Musk spent millions of his own money trying to sway the Wisconsin election
The Democratic-backed candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court defeated an opponent endorsed by President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk on Tuesday.
Susan Crawford touted her victory over Republican Brad Schimel, as a win against powerful interests and cementing a liberal majority for at least three more years.
Musk and groups he backed had spent more than $21 million in an effort to defeat Crawford. Musk even travelled to Wisconsin two days before the election to personally hand over $1 million checks to two voters.
It is unusual for a state's judicial election to draw so much media attention both nationally and internationally but many, including the President himself, billed this contest as a referendum on the administration's first few months in office.
Here's a look back at the contest and what it tells us about Republican support in the US.
Republican backed Brad Schimel gives his concession speech after losing the race. Credit: AP
What happened?
The election was called after Wisconsin's current supreme court judge, Ann Walsh Bradley announced she would be retiring when her term ends in July 2025.
The liberal judge, Susan Crawford, ran on a platform of opposing voter ID rules, protecting union power and abortion rights. She faced conservative opponent Brad Schimmel who enjoyed the vocal and financial support of both President Trump and X owner, Elon Musk.
The race broke records for the amount of money spent on a judicial election and quickly became a proxy for America's wider political battles.
“It’s a very important race,” said President Trump, adding: “I know you feel it’s local, but it’s not. It’s really much more than local. The whole country is watching.”
ITV News' Talking Politics USA team discuss Elon Musk's one million dollar giveaways in Wisconsin.
Elon Musk raised eyebrows through his own involvement and the unusual attempts to shore up Republican supporters through what appeared to be financial incentives to vote.
“Today Wisconsinites fended off an unprecedented attack on our democracy, our fair elections and our Supreme Court,” Crawford said in her victory speech.
Her win cements a 4-3 liberal balance on Wisconsin's Supreme Court for a further three years.
Why is this seat so important?
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to be involved in several important issues ahead of midterm elections in 2026 and the next presidential election in 2028. These include abortion rights and any potential redrawing of congressional district lines in Wisconsin.
The current Republican drawn boundaries have handed six out of eight house seats to Donald Trump's Party in what is otherwise a fairly evenly split state. Redistricting Wisconsin to reflect this could deliver two crucial house seats to the Democrats, eating into Trump's slim majority of just seven house representatives.
Outside of state specific issues, the Democrat's win in Wisconsin shows a small sliver of hope for a party still bruised by November's presidential election.
Susan Crawford and Brad Schimel participate in a debate during their election campaign. Credit: AP
President Trump and Elon Musk repeatedly told voters this was more than a local election, tying themselves and their work in government to the outcomes of this race.
“Whichever party controls the House to a significant degree controls the country," said Elon Musk, not shying away from the grand framing of this race.
"I feel like this is one of those things that may not seem that it’s going to affect the entire destiny of humanity, but I think it will," Musk added.
Elon Musk and Donald Trump's involvement drew criticism and protest from voters who claimed Musk was trying "to buy" the election. Credit: AP
Echoing the symbolic nature of this contest, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Ben Wikler said on Monday: “This is a test, and the whole world is watching.
“This is a chance for us to show that in a moment that is so terrifying nationally that we still believe in democracy*.”*
How much was spent?
This election drew headlines for being the most expensive judicial race America has ever seen.
At the close of polls, the total spent was close to $100 million (£77 million) , nearly double the previous record of $51 million (£39.5 million)
Elon Musk and his affiliated political groups contributed nearly $25 million (£19 million) of that amount.
Most notably were the individual giveaways Musk personally organised.
## Elon Musk promising $1m to someone each day ahead of election - is it legal?## How is Elon Musk's DOGE being received in the US and around the world?
Among these was the promise of $100 to Wisconsin residents who signed a petition opposing "activist judges," with a further $100 up for grabs for each signer they referred.
Musk then gave a further three cheques for one million dollars to individual voters, initially describing them in a now deleted X post as “appreciation for you taking the time to vote.”
Elon Musk awards one million dollars to Republican supporter Nicholas Jacobs. Credit: AP
Wisconsin law prohibits offering anything "of value" as an incentive to vote and Musk's actions outraged some legal experts - though Wisconsin lawmakers declined to stop them.
The move mirrors a nearly identical tactic tried by Musk in November's presidential election where he offered to give away one million dollars a day to voters in swing states like Wisconsin who signed a petition supporting first and second amendment rights.
Past statements by Musk backed groups suggest the prize winners aren't chosen at random. Lawyers defending Musk's previous giveaways admitted winners were chosen based on their ability to be good spokespeople for his cause.
While Musk and his political groups haven't clarified how these three recipients were chosen, one included the chairman of the College Republicans of Wisconsin, Nicholas Jacobs.
Wisconsin voters watch the results of this supreme court election. Credit: AP
Is the political mood changing?
The Democrats now claim this victory, as Republicans did prior to their loss, as a clear indication of voter sentiment towards Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
Some Wisconsin voters appeared to agree.
Jim Hazelton, a 68-year-old disabled veteran, said he had planned to abstain but voted for Crawford after Musk, whom he called a “pushy billionaire,” and Trump got involved.
“He’s cutting everything,” Hazelton said of Musk. “People need these things he’s cutting.”
Crawford's victory margins were higher in areas were Musk and his political groups had been active.
In Brown County, where Musk headlined a campaign rally with 2,000 people on Sunday, Crawford beat Schimel. Trump won the same county by seven percentage points last year.
Writing on X, Illinois' Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker joked, "Elon Musk is not good at this."
It's a mixed picture of election results though as the supreme court wasn't the only thing voters were deciding on.
On the same Wisconsin ballot, residents chose to uphold voter ID laws, something Susan Crawford had herself opposed over fears of disenfranchising a traditionally Democratic voter base.
Elon Musk was quick to claim this victory, describing it on X as the "most important thing."
Elsewhere in America the Democrats lost two special elections in Florida where they'd hope to chip way at the Republican house majority.
Both Randy Fine and Jimmy Patronis won their elections for the Republicans, although with smaller vote shares, cementing Donald Trump's slim majority.
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