Swing State Showdown: 2025 Election Becomes a Referendum on Trump and Musk

MADISON, WI - Voters go to cast their ballots in Wisconsin On Tuesday, they will determine whether conservatives or liberals will gain control of the majority on the important Midwestern swing state’s Supreme Court. This body is expected to make critical decisions involving matters such as congressional district mapping, electoral processes, workers' rights, and abortion legislation.

Nevertheless, due to an enormous influx of funds from both Democratic and Republican organizations based outside of Wisconsin — turning this race into the costliest judicial election in U.S. history — the contest has become a referendum on President. Donald Trump's drastic and contentious actions during the initial months of his return tenure at the White House.

Additionally, at the forefront of the election battle is another individual, who, like Trump, isn’t up for vote – the president’s leading contributor and advisor in the White House – the billionaire Elon Musk.

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Musk, who holds the title of the wealthiest individual globally And as the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, he has aggressively tackled the federal government workforce while leading Trump's newly established Department of Government Efficiency.

Using coordinated political organizations, he has allocated approximately $20 million in the Wisconsin contest to back Brad Schimel, a right-leaning contender endorsed by Trump. Schimel is a previous state attorney general who now functions as a state circuit court judge in Waukesha County.

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SWING STATE CLASH: democrats AIM AT Elon Musk

In a provocative gesture, Musk distributed $1 million checks to two Wisconsin voters during a gathering in Green Bay on Sunday night. These individuals had already submitted their votes and had also endorsed a petition aimed at halting "activist judges."

The Democratic Attorney General of Wisconsin filed a lawsuit aiming to halt the payments; however, the state Supreme Court declined to intervene.

This makes traditional media outlets sort of go crazy. They end up broadcasting it across all news channels," Musk explained to the audience about why he offers substantial rewards. "The exposure it receives would typically require spending roughly ten times more... .

Describing the election as "a super big deal," Musk stressed its importance to the Trump agenda. He stated, "This will be crucial for the future of civilization." According to him, its significance cannot be overstated.

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Musk isn't the sole major contributor on the right participating in the Wisconsin clash.

Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein, prominent shipping tycoons and significant donors within the conservative sphere nationwide, have also contributed substantial sums in backing Schimel and the Wisconsin Republican Party.

“If someone had told me half a year ago that this would occur, I wouldn’t have believed them. However… certain aspects of this situation are now completely out of my hands,” Schimel stated during a Fox News Digital interview at a bus tour halt near Green Bay on Monday.

Schimel, who initiated his campaign 16 months prior, also stated, "Others may choose to view this as a referendum on the president or Elon Musk if they believe that’s what they should do."

He stressed, 'This is a referendum on Wisconsin.' He asked, 'Can we bring impartiality back to the Wisconsin Supreme Court?'

Schimel has embraced the support from Trump as well. In the last leg of the campaign, a television advertisement emphasized that casting votes for Schimel would safeguard Trump's policies. Moreover, the candidate was seen sporting a "Make America Great Again" cap at several campaign events over the final days leading up to the election.

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Schimel highlighted his last push to connect with voters.

Every day, we conduct between six and eight rallies in various cities throughout the state," he stated. "The turnout has been massive, with additional representatives spreading our message statewide where we aren’t present, carrying out identical efforts. This is all aimed at mobilizing these voters.

Trump, who barely won Wisconsin during both of his presidential campaigns, highlighted the significance of the race since the state’s Supreme Court has the authority to resolve disagreements regarding election results.

Wisconsin plays a significant role politically, and the Supreme Court heavily influences elections within the state," the president stated at the White House on Monday. "Securing victory in Wisconsin is crucial, which makes the selection of the Supreme Court judge ... quite an important contest.

The election on Tuesday, which marks the first state-wide vote since Trump’s return to the White House, provides voters with a chance to express their dissatisfaction with the President and his policies.

The candidate with a leaning towards liberalism, Judge Susan Crawford from the Dane County Circuit Court, has seen a significant increase in campaign funds. This boost can be attributed partly to a motivated supporter base keen on opposing Trump and Republican efforts.

"Crawford stated during a Fox News Digital interview on the night before the election, after a gathering in Madison, 'People are highly motivated and determined to ensure the protection of the Wisconsin Supreme Court,'" he remarked.

Crawford contended that voters "aren't interested in seeing an outsider, particularly a billionaire like Elon Musk, attempt to purchase a position on the Wisconsin Supreme Court."

During her gathering, Crawford stressed that "this election will decide all of our basic rights and liberties."

Crawford has received approximately $2 million injected into their campaign by the left-wing investor George Soros, who often serves as a bogeyman for conservatives. Additionally, Governor JB Pritzker, a wealthy progressive from nearby Illinois, has contributed significant funds to support Crawford’s candidacy.

“I've received significant support, and our fundraising efforts have been impressive,” she admitted. “However, for context, in just the past two months, Elon Musk has spent more than what we've managed to raise throughout these ten months of campaigning. This means his expenditures far exceed those of any person running for a state Supreme Court position anywhere, particularly here in Wisconsin.”

Crawford and Schimel are competing to replace liberal-leaning Justice Ann Walsh Bradley on Wisconsin’s top bench, where she has presided for almost thirty years. The outcome of this week’s poll will decide whether the court retains its current 4-3 liberal lean or shifts toward a conservative majority.

The event has attracted prominent supporters to Wisconsin, featuring progressive leader Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont alongside Donald Trump Jr., the president’s firstborn who is often seen as a figurehead for the MAGA movement.

The early voting period, concluding on Sunday, saw an increase of over 50%, based on preliminary data from the Wisconsin Elections Commission, when compared to the previous state Supreme Court election conducted in 2023.

As voters in Wisconsin don’t register by party affiliation, it’s impossible to determine how many of the early votes were cast by Democrats versus Republicans.

Original article source: The first significant swing-state contest of 2025 has transformed into a de facto referendum on Trump and Musk.