A small race in Wisconsin has thrown two of the world's largest political donors against each other: Elon Musk and George Soros.
Musk is a fervent supporter of Republican causes. His Super Pac spent around $ 200 million to help Donald Trump choose as president. Soros has spent billions helping Democrats and liberal goals and becomes a bogeyman for the right that uses his name as an attack slogan against 'awake' causes.
Now every billionaire focuses his financial power on an open chair at the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Two of Musk's groups – America PAC and the future of America Bouwen – have spent a combined $ 20 million to the Republican candidate, while Soros has given $ 1 million to the Democratic Party of the State for its candidate.
Musk himself will campaign in Wisconsin on Sunday, he announced on his X platform. “On Sunday evening I will give a lecture in Wisconsin, he wrote.
According to the Brennan Center for Justice, more than $ 73 million has been spent on the race on the race. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel predicted that the number could reach $ 100 million by the time that the election is over. It has become the most expensive judicial race in history.
“Everyone is everything in,” Brendan Glavin, the director of Insights at Open Secrets, told DailyMail.com. “I mean, it's amazing the amount of money.”
Elon Musk (left) supports the Republican candidate in the Wisconsin Supreme Court, while George Soros (right) supports the Democrat
The match for the Open Court puts Republican former Attorney General Brad Schimel against Democrat Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford.
In addition to Soros, Crawford has in her corner fund money; The rich Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker; And Retired software engineer Gloria Page, the mother of Google co-founder Larry Page.
Schimel has donations from ABC Supply owner Diane Hendricks, one of the richest homemade woman in the country; Gop Mega Donor Elizabeth Uihlein; and Joe Ricketts, founder of Ameritrade and an owner of the Chicago Cubs.
President Trump has endorsed Schimel. Donald Trump Jr. has campaigned for him.
Each side uses the large name donations against the other.
The president called Crawford “the chosen voice of the left -handed people to destroy you, and our country – and if she wins, the movement to restore our nation will bypass Wisconsin.”
In the meantime, Crawford is trying to use the donations of Musk to Schimel against him, even to refer to the candidate as Elon Schimel.
She has called the race 'The People v. Musk'.
Ideological control over the court that hangs in the balance after liberals had taken control of it in 2023 and had a 4-3 majority. The person who wins is chosen for a period of 10 years that starts in August.
Republican former Attorney General Brad Schimel (left) and Democrat Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford (right) compete for a period of 10 years at the Wisconsin Supreme Court; Voters decide Tuesday
Early mood started in the Wisconsin race
Voters decide on Tuesday who the chair wins.
The small state race attracts national attention for several reasons, including the fact that it is the first elections after Trump became president.
Both parties see it as an early litmus test for how voters feel about the Trump presidency.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court will also have a definitive word about different issues, including abortion rights in the state.
Wisconsin Clinics stopped offering abortions in 2022 after the American Supreme Court Roe vs. Wade had destroyed because they feared that a state law from 1849 would prevent them from providing abortions.
However, the clinics resume the procedures in 2023 after a lower court ruled that the law did not apply to them. Now that case is pending for the State Supreme Court.
The judges will also decide on rearranging congress districts in 2023. Currently, Republicans have six of the eight house seats of the State.
And the court will decide the voting rules for the presidential elections of 2028, in which Wisconsin will be an important battlefield.
Election employee Mike Quieto with the city of Madison has spoken votes near the Capitol of the State prior to the polls that open for the first day of early votes
Protesting protests Besides an event organized by GOP candidate Brad Schimel
Brad Schimel, Middle, greets Donald Trump Jr., while Charlie Kirk looks at a town hall meeting this month
Moreover, Musk's electric car company Tesla has a lawsuit awaiting the state that challenges its decision to block it to open dealers.
The company challenges a state law with which only third parties, no car manufacturers, can exploit car dealers. The law is intended to prevent manufacturers from undermining independent dealers.
That case could eventually end in the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Musk caused some confusion when he removed his original function about campaign in Wisconsin, in which he said he would give a million dollars away to two voters who participated in early votes.
“The entrance is limited to those who have already voted in the elections of the Supreme Court,” he wrote.
'I will also personally hand over two checks for a million dollars each appreciation for you who takes the time to vote. This is super important. '
He removed that and wrote a new position that clarifies the matter.
“To clarify a previous message, access is limited to those who signed the petition in contrast to activist judges,” he wrote. “I will also hand checks for a million dollars to 2 people to be spokespersons for the petition.”
The critics of Schimel have accused Musk of buying a favorable statement for Tesla if the dealer store would reach the Supreme Court of the State.
Tesla sells his vehicles directly to consumers, so customers in Wisconsin have to go to a neighboring state to buy an electric vehicle.
Company officials have been working for ten years to challenge the law. Two attempts in the legislative power of the state did not succeed. The company was exempted for Tesla dealers in the State Budget 2019-21, but Democratic government Tony Evers used its partial veto powers to delete the provision.
Schimel has repeatedly said that he would treat every case in which Tesla is involved if any others when he considered whether he should hear it or recover himself. He also says that the donations of Musk and his groups do not let him connect to them.
In the meantime, Glavin van Open Secrets warned that the enormous editions in this race are a sign of big money, especially in the interim elections of 2016.
“It is an example of the trend that we will see of this big money, not only at national level, but the big money that flows down in lower races,” he said.
“The part in question is when, especially in state or local varieties, that, when you have a stream of national mega-donoring money that comes in, citizens, voters have to worry about these external influences and what it means for their chosen officials,” he added.
“That is what we get with the ability of external expenditure groups to collect unlimited contributions, you give influence to people who can write certain figure controls.”
