Elon Musk spent $25 million to buy an election in Wisconsin, and all he got was a cheesehead hat.

A surprisingly easy, double-digit victory of Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford, the liberal candidate in Tuesday’s pivotal state Supreme Court race, was driven in large part by voter revulsion at Musk’s premise that democracy is for sale. The outcome of the most expensive court race in U.S. history — topping $100 million when spending by all sides was counted — was also a warning sign to Republicans of what lies ahead in 2026.

The richest man on Earth elevated an ostensibly nonpartisan springtime election — in the past, a generally sleepy affair — into a referendum on President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda.

Musk campaigned personally in the state, claiming nothing short of “the course of Western civilization” and “the entire destiny of humanity” were on the line. He also raffled off $1 million checks to people who had signed his petition opposing “activist” judges. One recipient happened to be chairman of the College Republicans of Wisconsin.

In last year’s presidential election, Wisconsin was the most closely contested swing state, and one in which Trump prevailed by bringing out hard-to-mobilize rural voters.

That, however, didn’t........

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