Will Elon Musk Be Able to Buy a Wisconsin Supreme Court Seat?

What this Wisconsin race tells us about the strength of Musk’s millions

Elon Musk isn’t just taking his metaphorical chainsaw to the federal government. He’s using his vast wealth to influence individual elections and keep a firm grip around the Republican party.

The most important race you probably haven’t heard about is the April 1st Supreme Court election in Wisconsin. And the world’s richest man has been investing heavily in it. This is something that deserves a lot more attention than it is currently getting.

Wisconsin is a crucial battleground state, one that often acts as a tipping point in Presidential elections. But more than that, its Supreme Court is often at the center of major disputes concerning redistricting, abortion rights, and election laws—issues that resonate far beyond the state's borders. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has a

Here to provide insight into the situation and offer ways to take action is our Wisconsin correspondent,

Kate Duffy

, a political activist leading Motherhood for Good. (follow her on IG!)

In today’s fast-paced environment, it’s easy for state and local issues to be overshadowed by national events. A key goal of this newsletter is to deliver news and analysis from states where decisions could have significant national implications.

So, what exactly is Musk doing in Wisconsin?

Groups funded by Musk, namely Building America's Future and America PAC, are pumping money into Wisconsin media markets to sway the race The race, between liberal candidate Susan Crawford and conservative Brad Schimel, has already attracted over $8 million in spending from Musk-affiliated organizations, making it one of the most expensive state supreme court races in American history. And the tactics being deployed are predictably dirty.

According to the AP:

A group backed by billionaire Elon Musk is behind a set of deceptive attack ads and text messages targeting voters just weeks ahead of the election for a seat on Wisconsin’s Supreme Court, employing a battleground state strategy it used last year against Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

The ads are labeled as coming from a group called Progress 2028 and are made to look like authentic messages of support for Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford, who is backed by Democrats. They describe her as a “progressive champion” who will “stand up for immigrants,” defend Planned Parenthood and promote a justice system that gives criminals “second chances.”

But records show the ads that appear on Facebook and Instagram and in text messages to some voters are underwritten by Building America’s Future. That’s a national conservative group that counts Musk among its biggest donors, a Wall Street Journal report revealed.

What happens in this race has implications far beyond the winner. In a lot of ways this is a proving ground for a new potential Republican-Musk strategy.

Mother Jones has called this race a referendum on Musk:

“We’ll find out whether Musk’s millions are more powerful than the fury that Musk provokes among voters…Musk’s involvement has turned what could have been a sleepy off-year election at a time when many Democrats are still reeling from Trump’s second takeover of Washington into a race with major national significance. A victory by Democrats and their allies would strike the first tangible blow against the Trump-Musk alliance and provide a blueprint for how to run against Trump’s allies in closely divided states that narrowly voted for Trump in November. On the other hand, a Republican victory would embolden Musk to spend ever greater amounts of money not just to dismantle the federal government but to take control of key swing states, allowing Republicans to further weaponize core democratic institutions. It’s not an overstatement to say that the fate of democracy is on the line in Wisconsin in three weeks.”

Why Wisconsin?

Is Musk suddenly interested in Culver's, the state's beloved frozen custard franchise? Fortunately, no. Our cheese curds appear to be safe from this turd’s destructive management for now. His investment in the state is incredibly strategic and beneficial for him and his many financial holdings.

• Wisconsin’s Supreme Court and the 2020 Election: Following Trump's loss in Wisconsin by approximately 20,000 votes in 2020, he sought to invalidate 30,000 ballots from predominantly Democratic areas. The Wisconsin Supreme Court intervened, and surprisingly, a conservative justice sided against the attempted electoral challenge. Republicans learned a crucial lesson: if they can't win fairly, they need to control the courts. Musk, with an eye toward the future, seems to be positioning himself to remain the shadow president after 2028.

• The Tesla Lawsuit in Wisconsin: Tesla is currently suing Wisconsin after being denied a dealer license to sell its vehicles directly to consumers. Wisconsin law prohibits car manufacturers from owning dealerships, a regulation designed to prevent monopolistic control over the auto market. Tesla applied for an exemption last year, but the state rejected it in December, affirming Tesla's status as a car manufacturer. Instead of accepting the decision, Tesla filed a lawsuit in Outagamie County Circuit Court, seeking a judicial review to overturn the decision or compel a new hearing. The ultimate destination for this case? The Wisconsin Supreme Court. Musk isn't just seeking allies; he's looking for judges who will readily endorse his corporate agenda.

Who are the Candidates?

The Wisconsin Supreme Court consists of seven justices, all elected in statewide, "nonpartisan" elections. Each justice serves a ten-year term, meaning the winner of this spring's election will hold the seat until 2035. If a justice leaves office prematurely, the governor appoints a replacement, who must then run in the next election cycle where no other justice's term is expiring.

The current ideological makeup of the court is 4-3 with a liberal lean, but one of those liberals is retiring. The winner of this election could shift the political balance.

Susan Crawford (D) is the candidate who respects democracy. She will bring a calm, steady, and common-sense perspective to our Supreme Court, which currently serves as our last line of defense against the tyrannical attacks on every day America coming out of Washington. Electing her is crucial to maintaining the current liberal majority, which is essential for:

• Retaining our new fair maps (which helped us pick up 14 Democratic seats in our state legislature in November)

• Ruling on the legality of Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban

• Blocking corporate corruption that threatens workers’ rights and our environment

• Protecting the sanctity of our votes, ensuring they remain intact and representative of our voices

Brad Schimel (R) previously served as the Wisconsin Attorney General from 2015 to 2019. During his time as Attorney General, Schimel was known for his staunchly conservative positions. While in office, he joined lawsuits challenging federal environmental regulations and defended the state's voter ID law. After leaving office, Schimel joined a private law firm. His campaign is emphasizing a commitment to upholding the rule of law and interpreting the Constitution based on its original meaning. He is generally expected to rule in favor of business interests and conservative social issues.

What this means for Musk’s control of Republicans?

Elon Musk is making more headlines than nearly anyone in the United States right now including the President and Taylor Swift. He’s got Donald Trump schilling Tesla’s for him on the White House lawn in a press conference infomercial that must have QVC salivating.

And even as he continues to dismantle our country’s public services, he has also repeatedly threatened to fund the primaries of anyone who dares question him or DOGE. There’s very few people left in the Republican party who will speak out or act out against him because they are scared. If he is able to buy a win in this race it will serve as a very powerful confirmation to all those who contemplate earning his ire in the future.

What You Can Do

Raising awareness and inspiring action is crucial because this race is tight, but winnable for the Dems.

• 97% of Democrats and 53% of Wisconsinites disapprove of Musk

• Democrats have already contacted twice as many voters as they did during the last Supreme Court race (where the D won!)

Point being - Dems can win! Here’s what you can do:

• Via email:

  • Share information about the race with friends by sharing this newsletter.

• On Instagram:

  • Share this post and other content from @motherhoodforgood.

• If you live in Wisconsin:

  • Connect with as many people as possible to ensure they have a plan to vote (spring elections depend on turnout). Find IRL events here.

• If you don’t live in Wisconsin:

  • Write postcards through Activate America,

  • Join a phone bank to GOTV, or

  • Travel to Wisconsin and do some door knocking.