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• The Wisconsin Supreme Court election has drawn national attention due to massive funding from Elon Musk and other billionaires.
• Musk’s involvement includes a $1 million giveaway to voters, sparking legal challenges over election laws.
• The election could flip the court’s ideological balance, impacting key issues like abortion, redistricting, and union power.

Quick Brief

2-Minute Digest

Essential Context

The Wisconsin Supreme Court election, set for March 31, 2025, has become the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history, with over $90 million in donations. Elon Musk has personally donated $20 million to support conservative candidate Brad Schimel, who is backed by President Trump.

Core Players

• Elon Musk – Billionaire and Tesla CEO
• Brad Schimel – Conservative candidate and Waukesha County Judge
• Susan Crawford – Liberal candidate and Dane County Circuit Court Judge
• Donald Trump – President Trump and Republican endorser
• Josh Kaul – Wisconsin Attorney General and Democrat

Key Numbers

• $90 million – Total donations in the election
• $20 million – Musk’s personal donation to Schimel’s campaign
• $1 million – Amount Musk plans to give to two voters who sign a petition
• 4-3 – Current liberal majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court
• 48% – Increase in early voting compared to the previous high-profile Supreme Court race

Full Depth

Complete Coverage

The Catalyst

The Wisconsin Supreme Court election has garnered national attention due to its high stakes and the massive influx of funding. The election could determine the ideological balance of the court, which currently has a 4-3 liberal majority but is set to change with the retirement of one of the liberal justices.

Musk’s involvement, including a planned $1 million giveaway to voters who sign a petition against “activist judges,” has sparked legal challenges. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul argued that this violates state law prohibiting the offering of anything of value to induce voting, but the courts have refused to block the payments.

Inside Forces

The election is highly polarized, with conservative candidate Brad Schimel backed by Musk and President Trump, and liberal candidate Susan Crawford supported by Democratic megadonors like George Soros. The campaign has seen unprecedented spending, making it the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history.

Musk’s motivations include a pending lawsuit against the state of Wisconsin, where Tesla is challenging a law that prevents car manufacturers from owning dealerships. This lawsuit could eventually be decided by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Power Dynamics

Musk’s significant financial influence and public endorsement have made him a central figure in the campaign. His support for Schimel aligns with President Trump’s endorsement, highlighting the political weight behind the conservative candidate.

The liberal justices on the court have endorsed Crawford, while one conservative justice has endorsed Schimel, creating potential conflicts of interest if the court were to hear cases related to the election or Musk’s lawsuit.

Outside Impact

The outcome of the election will have broad implications for Wisconsin and potentially national politics. The court is expected to rule on critical issues such as abortion rights, congressional redistricting, and union power, all of which could affect the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election.

Musk has emphasized the importance of redistricting, arguing that a conservative majority on the court could prevent Democrats from redrawing districts in a way that would favor their party.

Future Forces

The election’s result will set the stage for future legal battles and political strategies. If Schimel wins, the court’s ideological balance will shift to a conservative majority, which could lead to different outcomes on key issues like abortion and redistricting.

Additionally, the involvement of high-profile figures like Musk and President Trump may set a precedent for future judicial elections, potentially increasing the role of big money and national politics in local judicial races.

Data Points

• March 31, 2025 – Date of the Wisconsin Supreme Court election
• 2023 – Year the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s liberal majority struck down GOP-drawn state legislative maps as a partisan gerrymander
• 2024 – Year President Trump won Wisconsin by less than 30,000 votes
• $81 million – Total spending in the election as of the latest reports
• $100 – Amount Musk is offering to anyone who signs the petition against “activist judges”