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Elon Musk’s endorsed candidate experienced a significant defeat in a crucial Supreme Court election in Wisconsin, which was largely regarded as a referendum on the contentious billionaire and the Trump administration’s agenda.
Conservative Brad Schimel, who was supported by Musk with an unprecedented $25 million, was defeated on Tuesday by liberal judge Susan Crawford, as reported by the Associated Press.
This election emerged as the most expensive judicial race in the history of the United States and served as a litmus test for Musk’s political influence outside of Washington.
Musk personally campaigned in Wisconsin over the weekend, distributing two $1 million checks to Schimel supporters. He emphasized the election’s significance in preserving or expanding the Republican Party’s narrow majority in Congress, stating to Fox News, “Losing this judge race has a good chance of causing Republicans to lose control of the House. If you lose control of the House, there will be nonstop impeachment hearings. There will be nonstop hearings and subpoenas.”
In Florida, Republicans successfully defended two US House of Representatives seats from Democratic challengers in special elections, although the races were closer than anticipated.
Republican Florida state senator Randy Fine secured the House seat previously held by Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz, while Florida’s Republican chief financial officer, Jimmy Patronis, claimed the seat formerly occupied by Trump’s initial nominee for attorney general, Matt Gaetz.
Gaetz withdrew from consideration for the cabinet role due to allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use, which he denies.
The Republican victories will increase the party’s majority in the House to 220 against the Democrats’ 213, easing Speaker Mike Johnson’s efforts to advance Trump’s legislative agenda in Congress.
Trump celebrated the victories on his Truth Social platform, stating, “BOTH FLORIDA HOUSE SEATS HAVE BEEN WON, BIG, BY THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE. THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT, AS ALWAYS, PROVED FAR GREATER THAN THE DEMOCRATS FORCES OF EVIL.”
However, Democrats exceeded expectations in both races, fueled by voter dissatisfaction with Trump’s agenda 10 weeks into his presidency. The Republicans’ margins of victory were narrower than in the presidential election held last November, despite the contests occurring in traditionally Republican strongholds.
The Wisconsin outcome will also establish a liberal majority on the state’s high court, which is anticipated to address cases related to abortion rights in the coming months. The court may also confront issues concerning the redrawing of Wisconsin’s electoral map before the midterm elections in 2026.
Wisconsin Democrats characterized the race—which is technically non-partisan—as a referendum on Musk and his influence over the federal government. The party initiated a campaign titled “People v Musk,” featuring the billionaire with a chainsaw and celebrating reductions to the administrative state.
The party and Crawford received substantial donations from other billionaires, including George Soros and Michael Bloomberg.
Highlighting Republican concerns, Trump recently withdrew the nomination of New York congresswoman Elise Stefanik as UN ambassador due to apprehensions that the contest to replace her might also become competitive.
