Trump faces first electoral setback as liberal wins Wisconsin Supreme Court race

WASHINGTON – Mr Donald Trump’s second presidency was dealt a spinning blow by voters in Wisconsin on April 1 as they elected a liberal to the state’s Supreme Court, despite his powerful adviser Elon Musk pouring millions into the race to sway the polls.

Two months into his barnstorming return to the White House, Mr Trump celebrated victory in a pair of House races in Florida which remained in Republican hands.

But in the first real electoral test of his polarising presidency, his all-out effort to lodge a new Republican on the Wisconsin Supreme Court fell flat, as liberal judge Susan Crawford came out ahead of the Trump-backed Brad Schimel, according to US media.

Mr Trump appeared to ignore the results on social media, highlighting a separate Wisconsin ballot initiative requiring voters to present photo identification to cast a ballot.

“Voter ID just approved in Wisconsin election... this is a big win for Republicans, maybe the biggest win of the night,” he posted on Truth Social late on April 1.

Mr Musk, who has spearheaded Mr Trump’s attempts to

gut much of the US government

in a right-wing cost-cutting drive, went himself to Wisconsin to drum up support for Mr Schimel.

“It’s like one of those strange situations where a seemingly small election would determine the fate of Western civilisation here,” Mr Musk said in a discussion on his social media platform X on April 1.

The highlight of his weekend visit to the upper Midwestern state reprised a tactic seen during his efforts to help Mr Trump defeat Democrat Kamala Harris in November – handing out money to anyone who signed a petition against so-called activist judges.

Mr Musk, too, refrained from commenting on Mr Schimel’s loss despite spending millions on the campaign, instead taking to X to post “Yeah!” on news of Wisconsin passing the voter ID initiative.

Senator Bernie Sanders, a major force on the left of the Democratic Party, told supporters on X they had “the power to REJECT Musk and the oligarchy buying our elections”.

Beyond testing the public mood, the Wisconsin result will decide whether the state’s Supreme Court, which rules on things like voting district boundaries, tilts majority left or right.

In Florida, two seats in the US House of Representatives were up for grabs to fill vacancies in Republican strongholds, left by Mr Trump’s National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and failed nominee for attorney-general, Mr Matt Gaetz.

On the evening of April 1, US media called the race for Florida’s sixth district in favour of Republican Randy Fine, with Mr Trump tweeting: “Congratulations Randy, a great WIN against a massive CASH AVALANCHE.”

Shortly after, media outlets also called the special election in Florida’s first district for Trump-backed Republican Jimmy Patronis.

Mr Trump took credit for his party’s victory in both deep red districts, posting on social media that “the Trump endorsement, as always, proved far greater than the Democrats forces of evil”.

Democrats have been adrift since losing the presidency to Mr Trump and both chambers of Congress in November, and had hoped that a decent showing in Florida and a win in Wisconsin could be the spark.

In Florida, they were defeated by double-digit percentage margins in both special elections.

But House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries offered an optimistic view, telling broadcaster MSNBC that the smaller margins in districts won handily by Mr Trump “should have my Republican colleagues quaking in their boots”.

Big stakes, bigger money

Illustrating the stakes of the contest in Wisconsin, the race has set a spending record – much of that in advertising and attempts, particularly by Mr Musk, to drive turnout.

Mr Musk, who spent roughly US$277 million (S$372 million) on Mr Trump’s 2024 election campaign,

presented cheques of US$1 million

to two voters and US$100 each to other voters who signed his petition.

According to the Brennan Centre for Justice, more than US$53.3 million has been spent by Mr Schimel and his backers, including US$12.2 million from Mr Musk’s super political action committee, America PAC.

Ms Crawford’s campaign and those backing her have spent an estimated US$45.1 million.

The spending has made the Wisconsin race the most expensive in US judicial history, the centre said.

Mr Musk’s Green Bay rally at the weekend had an enthusiastic crowd, but the South African-born oligarch’s role in Wisconsin elections has provoked as much resistance as support.

At a pro-Crawford rally, 65-year-old retired electrical engineer Rob Patterson held up a sign showing Mr Musk giving a straight-armed salute.

“Our Supreme Court is not for sale,” the sign read. AFP