Wisconsin voters have elected a Democratic-backed judge to serve on the state supreme court, according to projections, following the most expensive judicial election in US history.
Susan Crawford is on course to beat conservative rival Brad Schimel, which would keep intact the 4-3 liberal control of the Midwestern state’s highest court.
President Donald Trump’s billionaire adviser Elon Musk was a prominent fundraiser in the campaign, and was the subject of Democratic attack ads. More than $100m (£77m) was spent by the candidates and their allies, including $20m by Musk.
The result is expected to have far-reaching implications, potentially even affecting the balance of power in the US Congress.
With most ballots counted, Crawford secured approximately 54% of the vote, while Schimel garnered around 45%, according to CBS News, the BBC’s US partner.
In her victory speech, Crawford addressed the financial influence of Musk’s fundraising efforts, telling supporters: “Wisconsin stood up and said loudly that justice does not have a price. Our courts are not for sale.”
A Dane County judge and former private attorney for Planned Parenthood, Crawford openly supported abortion rights throughout her campaign.
Tuesday’s result marked a setback for Trump in the key swing state, where he had secured victory by less than a percentage point in last November’s presidential election. Despite this loss, he found solace in Republicans retaining two congressional seats in Florida’s special elections.
The race was widely viewed as a test of Musk’s political influence. The SpaceX and Tesla CEO personally traveled to Wisconsin, distributing millions of dollars to voters who pledged to support conservative causes.
Democrats framed Crawford’s win as a blow to Musk’s powerbroking efforts. “Wisconsin cannot be bought. Our democracy is not for sale. And when we fight, we win,” Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren posted on social media.
Musk acknowledged the defeat of his preferred candidate in a post on his social media platform, X, writing: “I expected to lose, but there is value to losing a piece for a positional gain.”
Meanwhile, in Milwaukee, a heavily Democratic city, election officials reported a shortage of ballots due to “unprecedented and historic voter turnout,” according to a statement from the city’s election commission.
Wisconsin voters also approved a constitutional amendment on Tuesday requiring residents to show identification at the polls. While voter ID was already mandated by state law, enshrining it in the constitution makes it more difficult to change in the future. Crawford had opposed the amendment.b