A group with ties to tech billionaire Elon Musk is injecting over $1 million into Wisconsin’s upcoming Supreme Court race, indicating that Musk’s influence transcends beyond Washington, D.C. The Republican-backed candidate in the Wisconsin race is receiving direct support from Musk through his influential X platform. Additionally, a Republican-aligned group called Building America’s Future is allocating at least $1.5 million in the state, with advertisements scheduled to launch later this week. Musk has previously contributed to this group, which has endorsed some of former President Donald Trump’s controversial Cabinet selections.
The surge in financial contributions comes in the wake of Democrats securing victories in various minor special elections following Trump’s presidency. The Wisconsin race, viewed as a crucial bellwether, will serve as a litmus test for both political parties and for Musk, who played a significant role in supporting Trump’s election campaign and is now seeking to exert influence in state-level politics. Although officially categorized as a nonpartisan contest, the outcome of this Supreme Court race will have far-reaching implications on critical issues such as redistricting, abortion rights, and labor regulations. The competition pits Democrat Susan Crawford against Republican-backed Brad Schimel, with the winner determining the ideological composition of Wisconsin’s highest judicial body.
Yasmin Radjy, executive director of Swing Left, a Democratic-aligned organization focused on mobilizing volunteers for the Wisconsin race, emphasized the significance of Musk’s involvement in the election. Building America’s Future has emerged as the second-largest Republican-aligned spender in the race, trailing behind Schimel’s campaign. The group’s spokesperson declined to comment on their financial contributions but highlighted their support for key aspects of Trump’s policy agenda. Musk took to X last month to advocate for voting Republican in the Wisconsin race, citing concerns about potential voting fraud and criticizing the liberal court’s decision to permit absentee ballot drop boxes ahead of the 2024 election, which Trump narrowly won in Wisconsin.
Schimel’s campaign spokesperson, Jacob Fischer, acknowledged Crawford’s nationwide appeal and highlighted her endorsements from prominent Democratic donors such as George Soros, Reid Hoffman, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. Crawford, in response, accused Musk of “buying off Brad Schimel” through his financial backing.
During the previous election cycle, Musk emerged as a significant political contributor, investing over $290 million to support Republican candidates. While the majority of his funds were directed towards aiding Trump’s election bid, his America PAC also allocated $19.2 million across multiple competitive House races. Musk affirmed his commitment to political engagement following the election, emphasizing his PAC’s ongoing efforts in preparation for special elections and the upcoming midterms.
The involvement of Musk and the financial support from Building America’s Future reflect a broader national interest in the Wisconsin election and state Supreme Court races nationwide. With an increasing number of political disputes being adjudicated by the judiciary, parties and external groups perceive state court elections as influential centers of power. The Wisconsin race has already attracted substantial external funding, with various organizations like House Freedom Action and A Better Wisconsin Together actively participating in the electoral contest.
Building America’s Future, classified as a nonprofit entity, has not disclosed its donors publicly. However, reports indicate that Musk contributed to the group in 2022, underscoring his ongoing involvement in shaping political outcomes. The Wisconsin Supreme Court race holds significant weight as Republicans seek to regain control of the court following Democrat Janet Protasiewicz’s victory in 2023, which led to the redrawing of electoral maps favoring Democrats. The court’s composition could impact the delineation of districts in upcoming U.S. House elections in 2026.
Conservative groups had been anticipated to intervene in the Wisconsin race after Schimel expressed concerns about the escalating costs of television advertisements in the state’s competitive media market. This external investment is seen as an attempt to secure a court majority that aligns with corporate interests and conservative values. Sam Roecker, a Democratic political consultant involved in past state Supreme Court campaigns, emphasized the national significance of the Wisconsin race, predicting heightened attention from across the country.
As the first major electoral battle of 2025, the Wisconsin Supreme Court race is poised to attract considerable national scrutiny, reflecting the broader trend of heightened political engagement at the state level.
