- 17:00Israel vows to strike Iran again if threatened, defense minister warns
- 16:20Morocco sees record 8.9 million tourists in first half of 2025
- 15:50Morocco aims to secure five-month wheat stock amid price drop
- 15:20Macron and Starmer to sign historic nuclear deterrence pact
- 14:50Chemsedine Talbi completes Sunderland move after stellar Club Brugge season
- 14:20Police in Marrakech detain Algerian-French suspect wanted by Interpol
- 13:30EU unveils stockpiling plan to prepare for crises and conflict
- 12:50Spain eases lockdowns as firefighters stabilize Catalonia forest blaze
- 12:20Spaniards favor China over the US in shifting global perceptions
Follow us on Facebook
Wisconsin Supreme Court election: Key takeaways and implications
Liberal Judge Susan Crawford Secures Victory
Liberal judge Susan Crawford, backed by Democrats, won a pivotal seat on Wisconsin’s Supreme Court, preserving the court’s four-to-three liberal majority. Her opponent, Republican-supported conservative Brad Schimel, received significant financial backing from billionaire Elon Musk, a key ally of former President Donald Trump.
A Politicized Judicial Race
Although Supreme Courts are meant to be impartial, judicial elections in Wisconsin have increasingly mirrored partisan battles. Both parties aimed to influence the court’s composition, knowing its decisions could impact crucial policy issues.
Trump’s Influence and Wisconsin’s Swing State Status
Wisconsin was a key battleground in the 2024 presidential election, where Trump narrowly defeated Kamala Harris. His endorsement of Schimel was part of broader efforts to solidify conservative influence, but Crawford’s win signaled limitations to Trump’s political reach.
Elon Musk’s Costly Loss
Musk, through various political action committees, invested $21 million to support Schimel, making this judicial race the most expensive in U.S. history, with nearly $99 million spent in total. Despite his financial backing, Musk failed to sway the outcome, highlighting potential limits to his political influence.
Voter ID Amendment Passes
While Musk’s candidate lost, conservatives secured a victory with the approval of a voter ID amendment to Wisconsin’s constitution, reinforcing existing ID requirements for voters and making it harder to repeal them.
Implications for Future Elections
The Wisconsin Supreme Court will play a key role in shaping policies on reproductive rights and electoral redistricting. The election outcome suggests that while Trump and Musk remain influential, their ability to dictate electoral outcomes may be weaker than expected.