Wisconsin voters started voting on March 18 to fill a state Supreme Court seat in a race that has captured the attention of Elon Musk and President Donald Trump.

Musk’s America PAC has employed a similar tactic to the 2024 presidential race by offering $100 to voters who sign a petition against “activist judges” and supply their contact information to the PAC.

Trump endorsed Republican Brad Schimel on March 22. Schimel is running against Democrat Susan Crawford, and the polls close on April 1.

Why It Matters

If Schimel wins on April 1, the political balance of the Wisconsin Supreme Court will flip to conservative. The court is expected to rule on abortion and redistricting this session, and the winner will have a seismic impact on the direction of those rulings due to the court’s balance.

This is the first major political race since the presidential election and is being seen by some as a referendum on Trump and Musk’s national policies, from abortion to immigration.

What To Know

Brad Schimel—referred to by Crawford as “Elon Schimel” due to the amount of money and time Musk has invested in his campaign—has previously said he supports Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban, which the Supreme Court will rule on reviving this year.

During a debate with Crawford, he said abortion should be left up to the voters. Crawford said that she had previously represented Planned Parenthood, “making sure that women could make their own choices about their bodies and their health care.”

PACs run by Musk have contributed $11 million to Schimel out of the total $59 million spent on this race, which has caught the attention of some voters who worry that Musk’s involvement could tip the scales in Schimel’s direction.

Musk is currently unpopular among over half of Americans, according to recent polls, and the Department of Government Efficiency head’s influence on the Trump administration has been a hot-button issue in town halls in both Republican and Democrat areas.

However, the money he has poured into Schimel’s race may still influence people to vote, as it has helped to raise awareness around the race. Money has also come into the election for Crawford from billionaire investor George Soros and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.

Trump endorsed Schimel via Truth Social on Friday and accused Crawford of being “the handpicked voice of the Leftists who are out to destroy your State, and our Country.”

Schimel said that Trump’s influence on the race “could help me get my message out to voters who don’t vote in every election.”

What People Are Saying

Jane Delzer, a 75-year-old voter in Waukesha, told the Associated Press: “A woman’s right to choose is my biggest motivator. I’m deeply worried about what Schimel may do on abortion.”

Steve Ravely, a 72-year-old voter from Waukesha, told the AP: “[Schimel is] in line with everything I believe with the border, following the Constitution. I’m deathly afraid of Soros. Why he butts his nose into our elections is beyond me.”

What Happens Next

Early voting opened on March 18 and will run until April 1. Whether Trump’s endorsement and Musk’s money will push Schimel ahead of Crawford remains to be seen.