Democrats celebrated a liberal candidate’s win in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race on Tuesday, when conservative candidate Brad Schimel, who was backed by tech billionaire Elon Musk and President Trump, was defeated.
The Democratic party’s official X account posted a picture of the Tesla founder in a cheese-shaped hat with the word “loser.”
“Wisconsin beat the billionaire,” Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.), the Democratic vice presidential nominee last year, posted late Tuesday on the social platform X, which is owned by Musk.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) also wrote on Tuesday night that Wisconsin “cannot be bought.”
“Our democracy is not for sale. And when we fight, we win,” Warren added.
“Congratulations, @CrawfordForWI!”
Musk and his America PAC doled out over $12 million in an effort to beat the liberal candidate, Susan Crawford, and sway the race in Schimel’s favor. Musk used a similar tactic to motivate voters to support Trump in 2024.
Days before ballots were counted, Musk visited the state to give a speech encouraging voters to support Schimel. He handed out oversized $1 million checks to two attendees of his Sunday town hall, saying the stunt was cheaper and more effective than paying for the same amount of media coverage.
He also paid $100 to every voter who signed a petition against liberal judges and another $100 for every signer they referred.
Democrats tried to block the payments in court, arguing they were a violation of state law, but a judge denied a request for an emergency injunction.
“I expected to lose, but there is value to losing a piece for a positional gain,” Musk wrote online early Wednesday morning.
He later added that a measure regarding heightened requirements for voter identification in Wisconsin was the “most important” item passed in Tuesday’s election.
Earlier this week, Musk wrote online that a ” seemingly small election could determine the fate of Western civilization.”
“I think it matters for the future of the world,” he added.
Wisconsin’s high court will maintain a liberal majority after Crawford’s win and will likely determine redistricting for the Badger State ahead of midterm elections and the 2028 presidential race.
Trump’s success in Wisconsin last year prompted Democrats to reevaluate their campaign strategy in the battleground state.
