Elon Musk just dropped $11 million to reshape Wisconsin’s Supreme Court while George Soros writes checks to stop him – and this isn’t even a national election.
At a Glance
- Billionaire influence is dominating Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race with Elon Musk backing Republican Judge Brad Schimel and George Soros supporting Democrat Judge Susan Crawford
- The April 1 election will determine whether the court maintains its liberal majority or shifts to a conservative one, impacting abortion rights and redistricting
- Musk-aligned groups have donated over $11 million to Schimel’s campaign, while Soros and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker contributed $1.5 million to Crawford
- The race has become one of the most expensive judicial campaigns in U.S. history, highlighting the increasing politicization of state courts
Billionaire Battle in America’s Heartland
Wisconsin’s usually sleepy Supreme Court election has erupted into a high-stakes billionaire showdown that would make even the most jaded political operative blush. Early voting began March 18 in what has become a proxy war between some of America’s wealthiest political actors. On one side, we have tech maverick Elon Musk throwing his financial weight behind Republican-endorsed Brad Schimel, while on the other, the progressive billionaire tag-team of George Soros and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker back Democrat Susan Crawford. When the richest man in the world starts dumping millions into a state judicial race, you know something bigger than black robes and gavels is at stake.
This electoral battle has ballooned into one of the most expensive judicial races in American history, with Musk-aligned groups pouring a staggering $11 million into supporting Schimel. Meanwhile, Soros and Pritzker have countered with a comparatively modest $1.5 million backing Crawford. Remember when we used to worry about $10,000 donations corrupting politics? Those were simpler times. Now we’ve got billionaires treating state Supreme Court races like high-stakes poker games, with constitutional rights as the chips on the table. The sheer scale of outside money pouring into this election reflects the growing recognition that state courts are increasingly where America’s most divisive battles are actually decided.
What’s Actually at Stake Here
This isn’t just about wealthy people playing political chess. The Wisconsin Supreme Court gained a liberal majority in 2023 for the first time in 15 years, and the consequences were immediate and far-reaching. The court promptly overturned Republican-drawn legislative maps that had kept the GOP in power despite Wisconsin’s purple-state status. They also struck down restrictions on absentee ballot drop boxes that conservatives had championed. If you’re wondering why Republicans are scrambling to get Schimel elected, there’s your answer – control over election rules and district lines that could determine who holds power for the next decade.
“If Elon Musk is trying to get some result in that lawsuit, he may be failing because I enforce the law and I respect the laws passed by the Legislature.” – Brad Schimel
The elephant in the room is abortion access, which has become a flashpoint since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Wisconsin currently operates under a pre-Civil War abortion ban that suddenly sprang back to life when federal protections disappeared. Crawford has made no secret of her support for Planned Parenthood and abortion rights. Schimel, maintaining the conservative position that judges shouldn’t legislate from the bench, argues this issue should be decided by voters through their elected representatives. It’s the same dance we’ve seen from judicial candidates for decades – one side openly supporting progressive causes while accusing the other of being ideologically driven.
Why Musk and Soros Care So Much
Crawford’s campaign has desperately tried to paint Musk’s interest as purely self-serving, pointing to Tesla’s ongoing legal battle with Wisconsin dealership laws that prevent the company from selling cars directly to consumers. It’s a convenient narrative – billionaire tries to buy justice for his company – but hardly explains why Musk would drop $11 million on a state court race when Tesla’s legal issues in Wisconsin are worth far less. The truth is more straightforward: Musk has evolved into a major conservative donor committed to traditional American values and constitutional protections, while Soros has spent decades bankrolling progressive causes and candidates who advance his globalist vision.
Perhaps the most telling aspect of this race is Crawford’s admission that she might recuse herself from cases involving Act 10, the controversial law that limited collective bargaining for public employees, which she previously opposed. Schimel described Act 10 as “a validly passed law” and pledged to defend it, though he stopped short of promising recusal on related cases. The contrast couldn’t be clearer: a conservative judge who promises to uphold laws regardless of personal preference versus a progressive who telegraphs her willingness to sidestep cases where her activism might be too obvious. With early voting continuing through March 30 and Election Day set for April 1, Wisconsin voters face a choice that will reverberate far beyond state lines.
