Liberal wins Wisconsin Supreme Court election in setback for Trump, Musk

Seen as early referendum on Trump's presidency, with Tesla billionaire spending big

20250402 Wisconsin supreme court election file photo

Elon Musk, right, gives a check to an audience member during a rally in support of a conservative state Supreme Court candidate in Wisconsin on March 30. © Reuters

(Reuters) -- Wisconsin voters elected Susan Crawford to the state Supreme Court on Tuesday, maintaining the court's 4-3 liberal majority in a setback for President Donald Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk, who had backed her conservative rival.

The election was widely seen as an early referendum on Trump's presidency, and the campaign easily became the most expensive judicial contest in U.S. history with more than $90 million spent by the candidates, the state parties and outside groups, according to New York University's Brennan Center.

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