A recent meeting was chaired by entrepreneur Elon Musk and attended by Wisconsin’s Supreme Court nominee, Brad Schimel, and Senator Ron Johnson, a Republican representing Wisconsin. The meet-up to discuss Proposition X had a rocky start, beginning more than half an hour late, as Musk’s comments layered over Schimel’s. Eventually, the disorder settled, and Musk was able to articulate his key motivations for involving himself in the upcoming state Supreme Court election. His intentions boiled down to his offering of $100 for every individual willing to push back against ‘activist judges’ and an unprecedented financial commitment of $18 million funnelled through various political groups to support Schimel’s campaign.
Musk explained the gravity of the forthcoming Supreme Court election in Wisconsin, asserting the potential repercussions it could hold on the distribution of congressional districts. He reasoned that Brad Schimel’s victory could prevent Democrats from redrawing districts, which could consequently result in Wisconsin losing two seats currently held by the Republican Party. Musk’s main fear stems from the potential for a slim Republican majority to be undermined, possibly leading to a Democratic-controlled House, should they succeed in their redistricting efforts.
Fears have arisen, most predominantly from Musk, that if the Supreme Court maintains a liberal majority, they might invalidate the composition of the congressional districts. This composition currently awards Republicans with a 6-2 advantage in the U.S House delegation, an aspect that Democrats have openly opposed. Such reconfiguration by a court controlled by progressive policies could contribute significantly to the Democrats’ efforts to regain control over the House of Representatives.
The Princeton Gerrymandering Project has critically evaluated this map, grading it an ‘F’ for the lack of impartiality it exhibited, considering it gives Republicans an undeniable edge. Additionally, the court has yet to consider the pending lawsuit against the district configuration. However, if the court ultimately invalidates it, this could strengthen the Democrats’ position to reclaim the House.
Musk’s substantial financial investment in Wisconsin’s judicial contest circles back to his personal interests concerning preserving his power rather than the state’s welfare. This is a recurring motif identified within strategies employed by the Trump administration. They display a similar disregard for the judiciary’s independence, openly intimidating to depose federal judges over conflicting rulings while fervently installing their chosen candidates onto the bench. These judges, they believe, would support their radical initiatives and further their oligarchic ambitions.
Brad Schimel, the former Attorney General and Judge from suburban Milwaukee, is deemed a willing participant in such strategies. He publicly displayed his support during the recent ‘Mega Maga Rally’ where he proudly stood in front of a massive inflated likeness of Trump with promotional materials endorsing his candidacy. Moreover, he often expressed his admiration for Trump, dressing up as a Trump-themed sanitation worker during Halloween and sporting a shirt that expressed his religious beliefs along with his presidential preference.
Schimel has not hesitated to voice his support for some of Trump’s more controversial actions, and has frequently amplified Trump’s rhetoric. He revealed to the conservative group Turning Point USA that his Supreme Court candidacy is geared towards creating a ‘support network’ for Trump. His commentary on the election also reflects a conservative bias as he labeled his fellow conservative judge, Brain Hagedorn – who sided with the liberal justices in affirming the election’s legitimacy – ‘soft-headed’.
He used derogatory terms to demean the female progressive justices, accusing them of being as ‘dumb as a sack of hammers’, ‘addled’, and ‘crazy’. Most notably, he mimicked Trump’s disinformation change, suggesting to a conservative radio host that Republicans should aim to make the election ‘too big to rig’ to deter perceived Democratic voter fraud in Milwaukee.
Without offering any substantiated evidence, Schimel echoed Trump’s baseless conspiracy theories peddled during the tumultuous 2020 elections. He suggested that the only way to avoid mysteriously found ballot bags in Milwaukee–a notion propagated by Trump–was to have a resounding Republican majority in the elections.
During a live broadcast session with Schimel, Musk voiced his concerns about the turnout at the early stage of the election. Musk appeared perturbed by the early voting data, hinting at a Democratic advantage. ‘While examining the early voting patterns, it appears the Democrats are leading, which does not bode well’, he mentioned.
The post Elon Musk’s $18 Million Bet on Wisconsin’s State Supreme Court appeared first on Real News Now.
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