Elon Loses in Wisconsin

CNN reports: Liberals will win majority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, CNN projects.

The current results with 69% of the vote counted (source: CNN) is s follows.

That’s a pretty big lose for Elon Musk’s ability to throw tens of millions around to get what MAGA wants out of a given state-level election.

While I would not want to make too much out of this contest, it ain’t nothing. It should be seen to be at least in part a comment on the Trump admininstration and Musk’s antics.

Note that Wisconsin is closely divided at the state level in terms of partisan voting (as I noted yesterday).

I don’t have time for much analysis at the moment and will likely be scarce for the next several days.

I would note that the two Florida special elections held today will result in the GOP retaining those seats, as was expected given the large R leans in both districts.

FILED UNDER: 2025 Election, US Politics, , , , , , ,
Steven L. Taylor
About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a Professor Emeritus of Political Science and former College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog). Follow Steven on Twitter and/or BlueSky.

Comments

  1. Kathy says:

    The chief nazi should try to buy Greenland instead. At a million per capita, it would cost him only about 27% more than Xitter. Less if he caps the payment at $500 grand for minors.

    He can then give it as a present to the first felon.

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  2. Scott F. says:

    I still think it’s too much to ask the voters to save us from an oligarchy when our institutions fail to protect us from such a fate. Nevertheless, it is nice to see they can rise to the occasion when they are properly motivated.

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  3. Gavin says:

    Because Ken White is worth reposting:
    Something is fundamentally wrong with America when millions of dollars can’t buy you a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat, the respect of your children, the silence of your baby mommas, or a functional penile implant.

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  4. Kevin says:

    It should also be noted that those Florida elections were much, much closer than they have any right to be. A 20% swing between the regular election and the special elections. Enough so that Stefanik’s seat probably would have flipped, had she gone to the UN.

    Anyone saying that people want what Trump and Musk are doing is lying to themselves, to you, or both. And the impacts of the illegal DOGE rampage haven’t really been felt yet. How soon until we have a major food borne illness outbreak, or avian flu pandemic, or . . . And then the Schrodinger’s tariffs kick in tomorrow. Who knows what that will lead to?

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  5. Michael Reynolds says:

    An 11 point spread? In Wisconsin? Very cool.

    People do not like billionaires. It’s not just Elon, but it definitely is still Elon. Surprising, really, because he seems such a charming, likable fellow, totally not a ketamine-addicted, needy, neurotic sociopath. Of all our South African nepo baby Nazis he’s the one most likely to lie about full self-driving.

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  6. ~Chris says:

    @Kathy: I have made a similar argument. However, Trump and his MAGA minions are too full of themselves to be cogent. If Trump offered each Greenlander $1 million to become part of the USA, it would be comparable to buying four aircraft carriers. That’s a good deal for most everyone involved and might just work. But Trump can’t shake off his worst self… For example, it’s like his approach to the U.S./Mexico boarder problem… Trump spews venom instead of just saying, “Those folks illegally crossing the boarder from Mexico do so in order to seek asylum… but, Mexico isn’t trying to kill them… so they are really Mexico’s problem.” Instead, Trump and company just go straight into white hood wearing stupid mode (without actually wearing their white hoods in public).

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  7. Kathy says:

    @~Chris:

    It’s not his worst self. It’s his only self.

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  8. ~Chris says:

    @Kathy: Agreed (but it’s the same thing)! If he could shake it off, he would seemingly be non-existent.

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  9. Jay L Gischer says:

    @~Chris: I see your point, but I don’t think the deal you hypothesize is a good deal for the US. I would much rather we have 4 aircraft carriers than Greenland. The strategic value of Greenland to our defense is fulfilled by our existing base.

    It is a ridiculous idea. I think Trump is pushing it to increase pressure on Europe to spend more on their own military.

  10. Jen says:

    I think Trump is pushing it to increase pressure on Europe to spend more on their own military.

    Fun parlor game…I think he’s doing it because one of the few things that got lodged in his brain is the phrase “rare earth” so he thinks he’ll corner the market. I also think his limited knowledge base leads him to revert everything to what he “knows”–real estate.

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  11. Sleeping Dog says:

    It’s funny how big egos like Musk’s can’t comprehend that at the state and local level voters have limited patience for outsiders messing with local affairs. Dems and others pointed out that muskrat was. trying to buy the election and he, Wisc R’s and the candidate walked right into the trap and said, Yup, that’s what we’re doing.

    If there was exit polling, I suspect that a not insignificant number of votes against the R, were a result of rejection of musk.

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  12. Sleeping Dog says:

    Morons speak

    “I’m honestly shocked. I thought we had it in the bag,” said Pam Van Handel, chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin’s Outagamie County. “I thought [Musk] was going to be an asset for this race. People love Trump, but maybe they don’t love everybody he supports. Maybe I have blinders on.”

    Rohn Bishop, the mayor of Waupun, Wisconsin, and former chair of the Republican Party of Fond du Lac County, admitted that the race “throws up a bunch of warning signs for the midterm election.”

    “I thought maybe Elon coming could turn these people to go out and vote,” Bishop said. Instead, he added, “I think [Musk] helped get out voters in that he may have turned out more voters against [Schimel].”

    https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/02/republicans-florida-special-wisconsin-supreme-court-midterms-029963

  13. Kathy says:

    @Sleeping Dog:

    The nazi schlemiel couldn’t help Schimel? Imagine that.

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  14. al Ameda says:

    I have a (very liberal) daughter who lives in Wisconsin and she and her colleagues definitely feel that Musk was the difference in getting out the Democratic Liberal vote.

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  15. Rob1 says:

    @Jay L Gischer:

    I think Trump is pushing it to increase pressure on Europe to spend more on their own military

    That’s already happening (increased EU defense spending).

    No, it’s more likely that his cronies have some sort extraction scheme they hope to hatch and launder through the US gov.

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