2025-04-03T01:49:16Z

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On March 24, 2025, during a Cabinet Meeting at the White House, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk was seen observing the discussions taking place. This appearance followed a tumultuous election cycle that revealed a significant setback for Musk's political ambitions, particularly pertaining to the Wisconsin Supreme Court race.

Musk, who has been a prominent figure in American politics, especially since aligning himself with former President Donald Trump as a senior adviser, had been vocal in his support for conservative candidate Brad Schimel. In a series of posts leading up to the election, Musk expressed his belief that the outcome was critical for the future of “Western Civilization.” Despite his warnings and fervent campaign efforts, Musk downplayed the consequences of a major election defeat on Tuesday, stating in an overnight post that he “expected to lose.”

With a staggering investment exceeding $20 million from his political groups, Musk went all out to support Schimel's campaign. The billionaire used various strategies, including a heavy presence on television and social media platforms such as Google and Facebook, to promote Schimel. Moreover, he mobilized a ground team across Wisconsin to increase voter turnout and even made headlines at a rally by humorously donning a cheesehead hat while distributing two $1 million checks to support the cause.

Despite these extensive efforts, Schimel ultimately suffered a loss, potentially by a double-digit margin, which was a considerable disappointment for Musk. This outcome raises questions about the Republican Party's willingness to engage with Musk in future elections, particularly as the midterms approach.

Not deterred by this electoral setback, sources reveal that Musk remains committed to playing a pivotal role in upcoming Republican campaigns, particularly aiming to help the party retain control of the House in the 2026 midterms. Those close to Musk's operation indicated that they entered the Wisconsin race with an awareness of the challenges they faced. They understood that Democrats were likely to use Musk as a focal point in their campaign attacks, prompting Musk’s team to confront these challenges head-on rather than allowing them to go unanswered.

In the waning days leading up to the election, Musk’s political team recognized troubling signs. A memo obtained by ABC News indicated that Schimel had been trailing behind his liberal opponent, Susan Crawford, by significant margins. This prompted Musk to engage in a media blitz, participating in multiple livestream events and granting an interview to Fox News in a bid to rally support.

Following Crawford's victory, Democratic leaders were quick to capitalize on the results, framing Musk as a potential liability for Trump and the Republican Party. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer took to social media to assert that the election outcome was a clear repudiation of Musk's influence, stating, “Wisconsin voters sent a decisive message to Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and DOGE by rejecting an extreme Republican for their Supreme Court: our Democracy is not for sale.”

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, himself a billionaire and a significant contributor to the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, echoed this sentiment with a pointed remark on social media, stating, “Elon Musk is not good at this.” Furthermore, political operative Patrick Guarasci, who played a significant role in Crawford’s campaign, emphasized the importance of confronting Musk's political maneuvers directly. He remarked, “We didn't back down from a fight when Elon Musk got into this race. We didn't go looking for that fight, but we didn't back down from it.”

Nevertheless, Musk's supporters maintain that he played a crucial role in Trump's 2024 presidential campaign success, particularly in Pennsylvania, where Musk employed similar tactics. Former President Trump himself acknowledged Musk's contribution during a rally after his election win, stating, “[Musk] journeyed to Pennsylvania where he spent a month and a half campaigning for me ... and he’s a popular guy.” Trump remarked on Musk's familiarity with technology, adding, “He knows those computers better than anybody. All those computers, those vote-counting computers, and we ended up winning Pennsylvania like in a landslide.”