This Election Will Be a Crucial Test of Musk’s Power

The New York Times ^ | March 18, 2025, 5:01 a.m. ET | Kate Shaw

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Elon Musk has set his sights, and spent tens of millions of dollars, on being involved in national and international elections and politics. Now his focus has turned to a U.S. state election: the race to fill a crucial seat that will determine control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

That election is scheduled for April 1 (early voting begins on Tuesday), and Mr. Musk is supporting the conservative candidate Brad Schimel over the liberal candidate Susan Crawford. A victory for Judge Schimel would flip the court from liberal to conservative control, with potentially enormous implications for access to voting, legislative districts, abortion and more.

The prospect of a billionaire with outsize influence over the federal government also seeking to dictate the direction of state-level democracy should be profoundly alarming to anyone committed to federalism, a core constitutional value. Federalism is especially important right now. With unified Republican control in Washington, D.C., and a Congress that has been a willing participant in its own defenestration, states and state institutions are poised to become ever more critical sites for the preservation of rights and the rule of law.

Mr. Musk’s interjection started in January with an X post urging his followers to “vote Republican for the Wisconsin Supreme Court.” (The contest is nonpartisan, but it was clear what he meant: Vote for Judge Schimel.) He has since unleashed his spending juggernaut on the race: According to recent filings, his AmericaPAC has spent over $6.3 million on it, and the Musk-affiliated Building America’s Future has spent another $4.3 million. Yet another Musk-affiliated PAC, Progress 2028, is airing deceptive ads that purport to support Judge Crawford but in fact appear designed to help Judge Schimel.

Wisconsin’s politics are as divided as those of any state, and...

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The prospect of a billionaire with outsize influence over the federal government also seeking to dictate the direction of state-level democracy should be profoundly alarming to anyone committed to federalism, a core constitutional value.

The New York Slimes has never said a single disparaging word about George Soros and his store-bought Attorneys General, prosecutors and judges.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

I sent $50 to Brad Schimel’s campaign - but I feel a lot better about it knowing he has Musk’s backing. The Left has leaned on backing from Soros, Reid Hoffman, Marc Benioff and other billionaires for many years now - and they’ve got their panties in a twist because one single billionaire has become red-pilled and backs conservatives.

[bigbob]

Elon has stepped up to do what wealthy “conservatives” have failed to do. Get off their asses.

[iamgalt]

Unfortunately l think the selfish single issue women will probably tip this one to the rat. The NYT must think that too because they are saying it’s a test of support for him which is not.

[odawg]

Crucial test of Musk’s power???

Still trying to drive the wedge.

I wish Republicans had one-tenth the fighting spunk that the Leftists have.

[Resolute Conservative]

“The prospect of a billionaire with outsize influence over the federal government also seeking to dictate the direction of state-level democracy should be profoundly alarming to anyone committed to federalism, a core constitutional value.”

Does he mean like Soros and his dark money and influence?

[Ann Archy]

KILL MORE BABIES!! Seems like that’s ALL that matters to these women!

[z3n]

“Power”
“Election”

The gray lady is projecting again

[desertsolitaire]

Have Republicans been working this election low key or behind the scenes or us this turning into a missed opportunity for the Right to plan ahead?

[marktwain]

In the last Wisconsin Supreme Court election, a far left billionaire essentially bought the election and flipped the Wisconsin Supreme Court from Conservative to far left.

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Notice how the NYSlimes leaves that out of the equation.

[Robert DeLong]

Musk has no power. However, the job he is doing is being well received. So, I expect positive election results in the midterms.

Also Federalism is not a core Constitutional value. If it were, then individual states would have no power whatsoever. The Constitution defines where the Federal power lies, and anything not identified in the Constitution is by default, a power of the states to decide in their respective legislatures.

[napscoordinator]

This particular election is April 1st.

[Robert DeLong]

Okay, I wasn’t thinking of the Wi. Supreme Court Justice election. I think the Conservative will win, and by a large margin as well. mainly because of the revelations being exposed about the criminal corruption of the Democrats.