President Donald Trump faces his first electoral challenge on April 1, 2025, with crucial votes in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race and two U.S. House contests in Florida.
After dominating headlines alongside his advisor, Elon Musk, for two months, Trump’s influence faces public scrutiny. He has fully supported Republicans, sending Musk, the world’s richest man, to Wisconsin to rally votes for conservative judge Brad Schimel.
Trump criticized Susan Crawford, his liberal opponent, on social media, referring to her as a “Radical Left Liberal” who has a sympathy for “child molesters and rapists.” Recently, Musk supported Trump’s bid for the 2024 election with a significant $277 million contribution.
Voters head to the polls in Wisconsin and Florida for a hot-button races that could offer a barometer on how Americans are feeling at this point in Pres. Trump's second term. @rachelvscott has what you need to know. pic.twitter.com/zrTEVvov9u
— Good Morning America (@GMA) April 1, 2025He followed this up with a rally in Green Bay over the weekend, where he distributed $1 million checks to two attendees and offered $100 to others who signed his petition against “activist judges.” In Florida, Trump-backed candidate Jimmy Patronis is competing against Democrat Josh Weil in a GOP-leaning district where a close result could be problematic for Republicans.
Candidates backed by President Donald Trump are on the ballot Tuesday in Wisconsin and Florida, offering the first major electoral test of his second presidency.
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— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) April 1, 2025According to the Brennan Centre, Wisconsin’s race to decide the court’s left-right tilt has smashed spending records at $90 million. Schimel’s camp, fueled by Musk’s $12.2 million from America PAC, leads with $49.7 million; Crawford’s side trails at $40.3 million. In Florida, Democrats eye a morale boost despite slim odds.
Read: Elon Musk’s ‘Mind-Blowing’ Chart Claims Millions of Noncitizens Got Social Security Numbers
A Crawford win or a tight Patronis race could signal a Democratic spark after November’s losses. Musk’s cash splash divides voters rousing cheers and protest signs, like one from retiree Rob Patterson mocking his influence.
