Florida Republicans Triumph in Special Elections while Democratic-Judge Wins in Wisconsin
Despite President Donald Trump’s mixed outcomes in recent state elections, these contests were seen as a significant indicator of his administration’s standing. Trump experienced a symbolic victory in Florida, where Republicans secured two special elections for the US House of Representatives, this increases their majority and solidifies Trump’s power to pursue his domestic policies without obstruction.
With more than 56% of the vote, Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine, both candidates from Republican strongholds, defeated their Democratic opponents, Gay Valimont and Josh Weil, in these special elections. This victory brings the number of Republican lawmakers in the House to 220, compared to 213 Democrats, as per the vote count on Tuesday.
Trump expressed his delight on Truth Social, saying, “BOTH FLORIDA HOUSE SEATS HAVE BEEN WON, BIG, BY THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE. THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT, AS ALWAYS, PROVED FAR GREATER THAN THE DEMOCRATS FORCES OF EVIL. CONGRATULATIONS TO AMERICA!!!.”
However, Trump faced disappointment in Wisconsin, where a judge backed by Democrats was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court despite the significant financial support of more than $21 million from Elon Musk for the conservative contender, Brad Schimel.
With over 90% of votes counted, Susan Crawford secured a victory over Schimel with more than 54% of the vote. This outcome ensures the state’s highest court, responsible for crucial decisions on federal election matters such as voting district boundaries, maintains its 4-3 liberal majority.
Crawford, a Circuit Court Judge in Dane County, remarked in her victory speech, “I gotta tell ya — as a little girl growing up in Chippewa Falls, I never could’ve imagined that I’d be taking on the richest man in the world for justice in Wisconsin. And we won!”
Musk, who heads Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, played a significant role in the election, the most expensive judicial contest in US history, by contributing greatly to Schimel’s campaign and symbolically giving out $1 million checks to two Wisconsin voters at a rally to support Schimel, whom Musk deemed essential for the “future of civilization.”
With more than 56% of the vote, Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine, both candidates from Republican strongholds, defeated their Democratic opponents, Gay Valimont and Josh Weil, in these special elections. This victory brings the number of Republican lawmakers in the House to 220, compared to 213 Democrats, as per the vote count on Tuesday.
Trump expressed his delight on Truth Social, saying, “BOTH FLORIDA HOUSE SEATS HAVE BEEN WON, BIG, BY THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE. THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT, AS ALWAYS, PROVED FAR GREATER THAN THE DEMOCRATS FORCES OF EVIL. CONGRATULATIONS TO AMERICA!!!.”
However, Trump faced disappointment in Wisconsin, where a judge backed by Democrats was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court despite the significant financial support of more than $21 million from Elon Musk for the conservative contender, Brad Schimel.
With over 90% of votes counted, Susan Crawford secured a victory over Schimel with more than 54% of the vote. This outcome ensures the state’s highest court, responsible for crucial decisions on federal election matters such as voting district boundaries, maintains its 4-3 liberal majority.
Crawford, a Circuit Court Judge in Dane County, remarked in her victory speech, “I gotta tell ya — as a little girl growing up in Chippewa Falls, I never could’ve imagined that I’d be taking on the richest man in the world for justice in Wisconsin. And we won!”
Musk, who heads Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, played a significant role in the election, the most expensive judicial contest in US history, by contributing greatly to Schimel’s campaign and symbolically giving out $1 million checks to two Wisconsin voters at a rally to support Schimel, whom Musk deemed essential for the “future of civilization.”
