Elon Musk has his palms full as of late. From rampaging by means of federal departments with the vitality of a feudal lord to flirting with right-wingers in Germany’s final election, it’s arduous to think about {that a} state supreme courtroom race would rank excessive on his record.
But he has turned his sights to Wisconsin, shoveling sufficient cash right into a state supreme courtroom race there to make it the costliest such contest in U.S. historical past.
That form of cash can harm the integrity of such races irrespective of which facet it comes from, significantly when it floods in from exterior sources. Based on a 2023 Pew ballot, 72% People consider there ought to be limits on marketing campaign donations and 80% consider donors have an excessive amount of affect. A whopping 85% consider the price of working a marketing campaign is prohibitive for “good folks” who need to run for workplace. But efficient marketing campaign finance reform has confirmed elusive and is prone to stay so. It has no dedicated champions in both social gathering, nor on the U.S. Supreme Court docket.
Musk is backing Brad Schimel, a circuit courtroom decide from Trump-supporting Waukesha County, over Susan Crawford, a circuit courtroom decide from liberal Dane County. However the names hardly matter. This has turn into a nationwide litmus check for each events, a proxy combat of sources and messages as they battle for management in a swing state that President Donald Trump received by fewer than 30,000 votes.
Musk’s tens of millions have performed a key function on this race to this point, simply as they did in 2024. His affect is amplified by his social media platform, X, the place he has 219 million followers. Musk’s tremendous PAC has spent $2.6 million on tv advertisements, social media and on-the-ground canvassers, texts, digital advertisements and literature drops.
What’s in it for Musk? In a phrase, energy. Musk embodies a mixture of wealth and affect unseen in America — till now.
Victory in Wisconsin would show Musk’s standing as a pivotal powerbroker, a kingmaker who can swing elections as he likes. That in flip may pave the best way for flexing his political muscle within the upcoming Virginia gubernatorial race, or the 2026 midterm elections, boosting Republicans defending key seats or supporting main challenges to those that defy him.
Musk clearly enjoys the newfound political affect and next-level movie star Trump’s victory has introduced him. He obtained a style of heart stage throughout Trump’s reelection marketing campaign, when he usually was featured at rallies. Since then, Trump’s prime donor has gotten an workplace within the White Home and virtually ran Trump’s first cupboard assembly. Heady stuff, even for a person with Musk’s appreciable attain.
At stake in Wisconsin is majority management of the courtroom, which tipped to liberals in 2023. That was the costliest state supreme courtroom race in U.S. historical past — till Musk’s large funding this yr. Tipping the courtroom again to conservatives would give Republicans a substantial benefit within the subsequent state-wide election: The following courtroom will probably be liable for drawing congressional districts primarily based on the newest census.
However that is possible not nearly bragging rights for Musk. Wisconsin is among the many states that don’t allow automotive producers to promote their automobiles on to shoppers and Musk’s automotive firm, Tesla, is suing Wisconsin over its refusal to permit him to promote his vehicles by means of Tesla dealerships.
Ought to the case make it to the state’s highest courtroom, Schimel may show key to the result. Schimel wouldn’t need to recuse himself from the case, and has not promised to, regardless of the extent of Musk’s help.
Huge, exterior donations in state races are not that uncommon. Within the Wisconsin Supreme Court docket’s 2023 election, Republicans complained bitterly about mega-donations from billionaire investor George Soros to the liberal candidate (who received by 11 factors). Soros has given closely within the present race as properly.
That doesn’t change the truth that folks need — and depend upon — neutral judges after they search justice. The extent of cash and affect being wielded on this race poses a risk to that customary of impartiality.
The Marketing campaign Authorized Middle lately famous that when uber-wealthy non-public residents corresponding to Musk can dictate authorities motion, “it threatens the general public service mandate of our businesses.”
Many smart marketing campaign reforms have been taken off the desk by the U.S. Supreme Court docket’s notorious 2010 Residents United ruling. However the state legal guidelines governing ethics can and ought to be far stronger. A decide listening to a case centered on a prime donor ought to be compelled to recuse.
And as candidates, it’s solely inside their energy to mutually and voluntarily agree to say no exterior cash, or donations above a specific amount.
Voters have the facility to demand this type of tradition change. And judicial candidates specifically ought to be ready to watch the very best moral requirements — not the naked minimal.
Patricia Lopez is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist overlaying politics and coverage. She is a former member of the editorial board on the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the place she additionally labored as a senior political editor and reporter. This text was printed by Bloomberg and distributed by Tribune Content material Company.
