Tech billionaire Elon Musk, a close ally of President Donald Trump, sank millions into the Wisconsin state Supreme Court race and came up empty on Tuesday night.
And his critics are overjoyed.
Musk and Musk-aligned groups spent some $20 million to help conservative candidate Brad Schimel. Musk over the weekend claimed the outcome of the race “will be important for the future of civilization.”
He even gave out two $1 million checks to voters in a publicity stunt for Schimel.
Voters instead selected the progressive candidate, Susan Crawford, which ensures the court will retain its 4-3 liberal majority.
“He tried to spend his unlimited resources to buy a state Supreme Court seat in Wisconsin,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on MSNBC on Tuesday night. “And it failed spectacularly.”
Jeffries urged Republicans to walk away from Musk, whom he called an “unelected, unpopular, unhinged and unAmerican billionaire puppet-master.”
Observers on social media were just as blunt ― even on Musk’s own platform, X, where they couldn’t help but revel in his defeat:
America hates Elon Musk so much that he can literally wave millions of dollars under voters’ noses and they’ll still tell him to fuck off. You love to see it.
— Kat Abughazaleh (@abughazalehkat) April 2, 2025
Congratulations to @crawfordforwi and our friends in Wisconsin on delivering a humiliating defeat to Elon Musk and Donald Trump who tried to buy this race.
— Florida Democrats (@FlaDems) April 2, 2025
Along with tonight’s results in Florida, Republicans should be very nervous about 2026. https://t.co/R3Klx3Crty
Another reminder that money can’t buy you love, @elonmusk.
— Bradley Whitford (@bradleywhitford) April 2, 2025
Please send @elonmusk to all the close races!
— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) April 2, 2025
Brutal result here for @elonmusk who dropped $26+ million in this race and still got his ass handed to him. Money can’t cure being a politically toxic asshole. https://t.co/aaAHx5tVsE
— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) April 2, 2025
Elon Musk is not good at this. https://t.co/wNkMwRiYym
— JB Pritzker (@JBPritzker) April 2, 2025
How do we get Elon Musk to campaign everywhere?
— Hemant Mehta (@hemantmehta) April 2, 2025
Asking for all Democrats.
Elon Musk went to Wisconsin where he said the "destiny of humanity" rested on the election. Tonight the voters agreed and rejected his and Trump's undemocratic vision for the country.
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) April 2, 2025
Oh boy he’s going to be big mad. https://t.co/LL9WagkreH
— Robert Garcia (@RobertGarcia) April 2, 2025
It’s good to see that some things are worth more to voters than Elon’s millions! https://t.co/Xh0cSRwUct
— Barb McQuade (@BarbMcQuade) April 2, 2025
almost like large numbers of real voters really, really dislike Elon Musk https://t.co/LzwX3lEbIj
— Leah Greenberg (@Leahgreenb) April 2, 2025
Reality check for mega billionaires trying to buy elections https://t.co/181BWgwjG5
— Steven Mazie (@stevenmazie) April 2, 2025
yo @elonmusk maybe you shouldn't have showed up to wisconsin man, i think people hate you there
— hasanabi (@hasanthehun) April 2, 2025
Elon Musk put on a cheesehead, threw $20 million at Wisconsin, and still got dunked on.
— Shea Jordan Smith (@shea_jordan) April 2, 2025
He paid people to collect signatures, paid people to canvas, and even tried bribing voters with million-dollar giveaways.
Judge Susan Crawford easily defeated Musk’s handpicked candidate. pic.twitter.com/nsAjXKH1LW
All of this for nothing ????????????
— Knowa De Baraso (@KnowaDeBaraso) April 2, 2025
Flop @elonmuskpic.twitter.com/6khgoRacwu