By Alyson Garcia

On April 1st, 2025, Wisconsin held its Supreme Court election to decide which judge would serve for a ten-year term. The race was between liberal-backed candidate Susan Crawford and conservative-backed candidate Brad Schmiel. Crawford is from Dane County and Schmiel is from Waukesha County.

The race was held as incumbent justice Ann Walsh Bradley ended her impressive 30 year term, and an empty seat was available. The race captured national attention, especially due to billionaire Elon Musk’s participation.

Musk– who is head of the United States’ Department of Government Efficiency and owner of the social media platform X– donated over $15 million to support Schmiel in the form of political action committees (PACs). He even gave $1 million to individuals, in the hopes of boosting Republican turnout in the election.

The Democratic Party was dismayed with Musk’s efforts for attempting to “buy” the election. Democrats are convinced that Musk’s adamant participation in the election is due to Tesla’s lawsuit in Wisconsin. Tesla is suing the state over a law that prevents car manufacturers from owning dealerships, a case that could possibly be heard by Wisonsin’s Supreme Court.

Despite Republican efforts, Crawford won the Supreme Court race, receiving 55% of the vote, and Schmiel lost with 45%. Musk’s attempt to sway the election fell short, and is believed to be a glimmer of hope for many left-leaning individuals.

This victory in Wisconsin– a key battleground state– meant that liberal judges would maintain their 4-3 advantage, which is crucial in deciding contentious topics such as abortion rights, workers’ rights, and the trajectory of the state.

Victor Susan Crawford expresses her gratitude towards voters, as she stated, “Wisconsin stood up and said loudly that justice does not have a price, our courts are not for sale.” Many Wisconsans, and Americans alike, are perceiving this crucial victory as possible warning signs for President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, as every single county in Wisconsin shifted left on the political spectrum.

This election is one for the history books, as it broke the record for the most expensive Supreme Court race in US history, with over $100 million spent to influence the political outcome. The results are indicative that democracy does not have a price, and no amount of money can disempower a motivated populace.