'Full steam ahead': Elon Musk and his millions 'not deterred at all' despite election loss
Elon Musk may have dumped $20 million-plus in Wisconsin's state Supreme Court election — and warned the race had implications that could determine "the future of America and Western Civilization" — but his resounding loss late Tuesday hasn't deterred him one bit.
Musk donated millions to support conservative candidate Brad Schimel in the race, primarily through his affiliated organizations like America PAC and Building America's Future. Schimel was on the receiving end of a shelacking, however, heated by double digits by progressive judge Susan Crawford in a race that will tip the court's ideological scales as it sets to make decisions on key issues including the redrawing of the state's congressional maps.
The Washington Post reported late Wednesday that Musk and his PAC plan to remain "deeply involved" in backing GOP candidates, citing two people familiar with the plans. Musk himseld noted on social media earlier in the day he “expected to lose” in Wisconsin.
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"This is not deterring him at all. He’s still wanting to be heavily engaged in politics going forward,” one of the people told the Post.
“They are full steam ahead,” looking at the midterms and other races, the second person said.
“Candidly, if you look at the polling, Elon polls worse than Trump does,” strategist Liz Mair told the Post. “The reality is Elon is not as popular.”
Musk's defiance comes as even some Republicans express skepticism that he's helping their cause.
“The Republican base loves Elon Musk now, so [I thought] if he comes here and says, ‘Go out and vote for Brad Schimel,’ that would help,” Republican Mayor Rohn Bishop of Waupun, Wisconsin, told the newspaper. “But the opposite effect happened. Every Democrat in the state turned out to vote against Elon Musk.”