Elon Musk has announced that in the future he will spend “much less” money on politics, that he will contribute less to election campaigns. It has not been long since he announced that he is also leaving the US government. He wants to focus more on his businesses.
Elon Musk, the person who contributed almost $250 million to Donald Trump’s election campaign, to be rewarded with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is backing down. The reason is his latest – and failed – attempt to determine an election result. His “favorite” in the elections for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, conservative Brad Schimmel, lost. He was defeated by the liberal Susan Crawford by 10 percentage points. Then he is also stepping away from government.
Democracy or… business?
The owner of Tesla, X, SpaceX and Starlink had spent almost $20 million to support Schimmel. He was clearly not interested in getting justice. But he had an open court battle with the State of Wisconsin, which did not allow Tesla to open dealerships in its territory. Elon Musk hoped that by changing the composition of the court in his favor, he could obtain an exception to the law, which does not allow automakers with factories in Wisconsin to open dealerships.
Musk had given the campaign for Schimmel an ideological and moral character, talking about justice and democracy. He himself went to election rallies, where he would say: “It’s a question of democracy” – “That’s why I’m here and I’m not making phone calls.”
“A seemingly small election could determine the fate of Western civilization,” he also wrote in X on election day. “I think it matters for the future of the world.” But the plan didn’t work.
“The People vs. Elon Musk”
The Democrats in the election campaign essentially attacked the multimillionaire head of DOGE who took on the difficult task of cutting the US Treasury. Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wickler, following Musk’s announcement of his retirement from politics, said the election proved his money was “toxic.”
“The people won,” said Wickler, who had led the “People vs. Musk” campaign. “The Republicans’ biggest donor is taking his toys and going home.”
For his part, Brandon Scholz, a veteran, retired Republican strategist in Wisconsin, said that in this state, Musk’s behavior deserves to be described as “toxic.” However, he did not rule out that he will get involved in politics again. At the national level and if the stakes are high. And then, the money he spends may make a difference. As happened in the 2024 presidential elections.
Popularity decline
Elon Musk’s arrogant behavior as a top minister, who proceeded with drastic cuts to the federal government departments, did not help him. Even abroad, the aggressive tactics he follows have brought him losses. Both financial and business. Tesla dealerships have become a nuisance in various countries, vehicles have become targets of attacks and vandalism. The auto industry has seen revenue losses as sales have fallen. Even Donald Trump’s ad on the White House lawn, showing off his Tesla, had little effect. Elon Musk realized he had to get back to business. To protect his creation.
At the same time, his popularity is collapsing. After the April Wisconsin election, an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs poll found that only 33% of Americans have a favorable opinion of Musk. In December, 41% of respondents had a favorable opinion of him.
Wisconsin Democratic Rep. Marks Pocan, however, is not sure that Musk will do what he says. “I don’t believe any of this. It’s more evidence of his toxicity.”
Then there’s another election coming up in Wisconsin. Democratic appellate judge Chris Taylor will face Trumpite Rebecca Bradley for a seat on the Supreme Court in 2026. And she seems prepared for an uphill battle. “My campaign will be focused on the people of this state. “I am not fighting for the billionaires or the powerful,” he said.
