Elections in Wisconsin and Florida Test Trump’s Staying Power
The April 1, 2025 elections in Florida and Wisconsin represent the first major political contests of Donald Trump’s second term—and a revealing preview of where U.S. politics may be headed. In Florida, special congressional elections in FL-1 and FL-6—vacated by Trump appointees Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz—have drawn unexpected national attention as Democrats significantly outraised their GOP rivals despite deep Republican advantages (R+32 and R+33 districts).
\Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race has shattered spending records, crossing $100 million, with Elon Musk alone contributing $20 million in support of conservative Brad Schimel. For Trump, these elections are a test of his base’s energy and control over Republican strongholds. For Musk, the Wisconsin race is a calculated branding and political bet.
The outcomes will signal the early durability of Trumpism 2.0, reveal the shifting boundaries of partisan geography, and potentially alter judicial and legislative priorities heading into the 2026 midterms.
Key Data:
$100 million+: Total projected spending in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race.
$20 million: Elon Musk’s personal contribution to support conservative Brad Schimel.
$6.3M vs. $1.1M: Democrat Gay Valimont and Republican Aaron Dimmock’s fundraising in FL-1.
$9.5M vs. $987K: Democrat Josh Weil and Republican Randy Fine’s fundraising in FL-6.
R+32 / R+33: Partisan lean in Florida’s 1st and 6th districts—now facing unprecedented competitiveness.
Elon Musk’s unprecedented $20 million push in Wisconsin has turned the state’s Supreme Court race into a referendum on billionaire influence. Framed by Musk as a crusade for “neutrality,” critics see it as a vanity project—branding a swing state with his political imprint. The outcome will test whether voters reward his intervention or reject it as overreach, signaling how much power Americans are willing to give tech elites in their government.
