Senator Bernie Sanders targeted Elon Musk for his donations to conservative candidate Brad Schimel’s campaign for the Wisconsin Supreme Court during a stop on his “Fighting Oligarchy” Tour. Schimel responded, calling out the hypocrisy in Sanders’ actions and highlighting the difference between Sanders’ mobilization of people and Musk’s mobilization of money. Sanders emphasized the need to create a political system based on democratic principles and end corruption that allows billionaires to buy elections, while Musk has been using his money and power to influence elections.
Sanders has been organizing and leading opposition to President Donald Trump, rallying supporters in Kenosha and Altoona to encourage voter turnout for the April 1 election in Wisconsin. He criticized Musk’s significant political influence, pointing out the millions of dollars Musk spent to help elect Trump and his involvement in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race. This election is significant as it will decide the court’s balance of power and is expected to be the most expensive judicial election in the state’s history.
The race between Susan Crawford and Brad Schimel has become a battleground between Democrats and Republicans, with significant financial backing from Musk’s Building America’s Future and America PAC for Schimel’s campaign. The Wisconsin Democratic Party responded with a substantial donation to Crawford, emphasizing the need to prevent wealthy individuals like Musk from buying elections in Wisconsin. Sanders has been advocating for campaign finance reform to reduce the influence of billionaires on elections, calling for public funding of elections.
The Democratic National Committee supported Sanders’ call for keeping Musk and his billions from corrupting Wisconsin’s elections, stressing the importance of electing leaders who will serve the interests of Wisconsinites, not billionaires. Schimel defended his acceptance of donations, stating the need to compete financially in the race and ensure his message reaches voters. He criticized judicial liberals as activists who make the law rather than follow it, vowing to restore objectivity to the court. Despite the financial aspect of the race, the focus remains on issues facing working families and the need for campaign finance reform to address corruption.
Overall, the battle over the Wisconsin Supreme Court election highlights the ongoing struggle between political ideologies and the influence of money in elections. Sanders and other Democrats are advocating for reforms to reduce the impact of wealthy donors like Musk, while Schimel defends his campaign’s financial support as necessary for competing in the race. The outcome of this election will not only determine the balance of power in the Wisconsin Supreme Court but also serve as a reflection of the broader debate on campaign finance, transparency, and the role of money in politics.
