Liberal declared Wisconsin Supreme Court winner in Musk/Soros proxy fight

Apr 2

Cole Lauterbach Managing Editor

By Cole Lauterbach (Managing Editor)

Liberal candidate Susan Crawford defeated Elon Musk-backed Brad Schimel in a high-stakes election. Crawford secured a 10-year term and shifted control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which could influence cases like redistricting and abortion laws.

The race became the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history, with over $100 million spent, including $24 million from Musk supporting Schimel and $2 million from Democratic donor George Soros backing Crawford.

Both candidates leveraged their opponents’ billionaire supporters in campaign ads, with Crawford celebrating her victory as a triumph over Musk and Schimel labeling her as aligned with Soros and other liberal figures.

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In the campaign for a seat on Wisconsin’s high court, liberal candidate Susan Crawford defeated Elon Musk-backed Brad Schimel on Tuesday night, April 1.

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The election decided which side of the political aisle controlled the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Crawford, a Dane County judge, bested the Waukesha County judge by a 54-46 margin as of Tuesday night.

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Though the race is nonpartisan, Musk called the election the most important in the country. Crawford will serve a 10-year term and could end up being the deciding vote on high-profile cases such as congressional redistricting and abortion laws.

Heavyweight bout

The election became the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history. Even though Wisconsin caps individual contributions at $20,000, donations to political parties and political action committees aren’t limited. One news outlet reportedly tallied the total spending at more than $100 million. Billionaire Musk contributed more than $24 million to Schimel.

Musk sponsored an event in support of Schimel last month that raised questions when he announced a $1 million giveaway for Wisconsin voters who signed a petition opposing activist judges.

In Crawford’s corner was Democratic billionaire Soros, though he contributed only $2 million to support her campaign.

In addition to Soros, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker also supported Crawford’s campaign. The billionaire heir to the Hyatt Hotels chain sent Wisconsin Democrats $1.5 million in the current election cycle. The party spent $11 million supporting Crawford. In 2021, Pritzker signed legislation banning out-of-state contributions to judicial elections in Illinois. Wisconsin Public Radio reports Dick Uihlein, founder of Illinois-based packing company Uline, donated nearly $8 million along with his wife.

Billionaires on billboards

The two candidates used the others’ billionaire supporters in attack ads.

“As a little girl growing up in Chippewa Falls, I never could have imagined that I’d be taking on the richest man in the world for justice in Wisconsin, and we won,” Crawford said Tuesday night.

Schimel labeled Crawford as a Soros ally along the campaign trail.

“Susan Crawford takes her marching orders from George Soros, JB Pritzker, anti-ICE sheriffs, and Defund the Police radicals,” his campaign said in a post to X.

Tags: Elon Musk, George Soros, J.B. Pritzker, Supreme Court, Wisconsin

Liberal declared Wisconsin Supreme Court winner in Musk/Soros proxy fight

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