Two months into his second presidency, Donald Trump suffered his first electoral setback Tuesday as liberal judge Susan Crawford defeated his endorsed candidate, Brad Schimel, in a closely watched Wisconsin Supreme Court race.
The high-stakes contest, which could shape the court’s ideological balance, drew unprecedented spending—including millions from billionaire Elon Musk, a key Trump ally. Musk personally campaigned for Schimel and poured $12.2 million into the race through his America PAC.
Despite the loss, Trump downplayed the results, instead celebrating the approval of a voter ID measure in Wisconsin, calling it "the biggest win of the night.”
The defeat comes as Democrats look to regain footing after losing the White House and both chambers of Congress in November. While Republicans secured victories in two Florida House races Tuesday, Democrats pointed to smaller margins as a sign of shifting voter sentiment.
The Wisconsin race, which saw record-breaking spending, underscores the deep political and financial battles ahead as Trump seeks to solidify conservative influence in the judiciary.
