Trump, Musk Go All In On Wisconsin Supreme Court Race

Former President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk are throwing their full support behind the Republican contender in Wisconsin's crucial Supreme Court race, a contest that could influence which party secures control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The showdown between conservative Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel and liberal Dane County Judge Susan Crawford has drawn national attention, with both parties heavily invested in the outcome of Tuesday’s election.

This pivotal seat on Wisconsin’s Supreme Court became available after a judge stepped down, and its new occupant will determine whether the court holds a 4-3 conservative or liberal majority.

Spending in this high-stakes race has already surpassed the previous record of $51 million, set in Wisconsin two years ago for the costliest judicial election in U.S. history. Analysts predict that spending could exceed $100 million this time around.

Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, has played a significant role in escalating campaign spending. Financial records reveal that the billionaire has funneled substantial resources into this key swing-state battle, where Trump clinched victory by a narrow margin in 2024. Musk has personally contributed $19.3 million toward the race.

Last week, Musk donated $2 million to Wisconsin’s GOP, while organizations connected to him have also invested heavily. His political action committee, America PAC, along with his nonprofit, Building America’s Future, have collectively provided about $16 million to bolster Schimel’s campaign.

Musk’s message to Wisconsin voters is clear: “Conservative Brad Schimel will support President Trump’s agenda! Together, we won the White House,” reads a campaign flyer funded by America PAC. “Now it’s time to win the courthouse!”

Beyond party control, this election carries major implications for issues such as abortion, voter ID laws, and congressional redistricting, making the ideological balance of Wisconsin’s Supreme Court a crucial battleground.

Trump is keeping a close watch on developments in the state.

On Friday, he took to Truth Social to denounce Crawford as “the handpicked voice of the Leftists” and urged Wisconsinites to rally behind Schimel.

“And if she (Crawford) wins, the Movement to restore our Nation will bypass Wisconsin,” Trump warned. “All Voters who believe in Common Sense should GET OUT TO VOTE EARLY for Brad Schimel.”

“She is the handpicked voice of the Leftists who are out to destroy your State, and our Country — And if she wins, the Movement to restore our Nation will bypass Wisconsin. All Voters who believe in Common Sense should GET OUT TO VOTE EARLY for Brad Schimel,” the former president declared.

“By turning out and VOTING EARLY, you will be helping to Uphold the Rule of Law, Protect our Incredible Police, Secure our Beloved Constitution, Safeguard our Inalienable Rights, and PRESERVE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL,” Trump added.

Despite the unprecedented financial contributions and heightened political scrutiny, Schimel has asserted his independence, rejecting any notion that his candidacy is “for sale.”

“People want to support you,” Schimel stated at a forum last month. “It should be they’re supporting you because they like the things that you stand for, not because they’re buying some result.”

Crawford, a circuit judge, has faced criticism over past sentencing decisions. During a recent debate, she defended a controversial sentence she handed down in a case involving child sexual assault, according to Legal Newswire.

“I don’t regret that sentence because I followed the law in that case,” she said.

Crawford’s campaign, meanwhile, has used Trump’s endorsement of Schimel as a rallying cry for anti-MAGA voters.

“Brad Schimel is a corrupt politician who let 6,000 rape kits sit untested and gave a plea deal to a child predator whose attorney gave him $5,000,” her campaign charged. “Schimel has spent his entire career on bent knee to right-wing special interests, we assumed he had this endorsement locked up months ago.

“Schimel has said he wants to be a ‘support network’ for Trump and that the Wisconsin Supreme Court ‘screwed over’ Trump in 2020. Wisconsinites will reject Brad Schimel once again on April 1st,” the campaign stated.