In the Missouri Congressional race, we saw millions of dollars from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) to support Wesley Bell. It drowned the campaign of incumbent Cori Bush who was targeted for her strong stance to support Palestinian liberation.

Although the elections for state Supreme Court judges in Wisconsin are non-partisan, the party or ideological affiliation is well known before a candidate gets on the ballot. Brad Schimel is a Republican former state attorney general. Dane County Judge Susan Crawford is a known liberal Democrat.

This will not be the first time Wisconsin sees millions coming into the state to influence a race. The 2023 court race was the most expensive in American history. Thanks to billionaire Elon Mush, the 2025 court race is poised to surpass the $51 million spent two years ago.

It should be no secret that Musk will do whatever he needs to do to get that judge seat. This includes offering Wisconsin voters $100 to sign a petition opposing activist judges, and another $100 for each signer they refer. Musk will need a favorable court when and if the Tesla case comes before the state’s High Court. Musk has sued the state over a decision preventing his company from opening dealerships in the state.

There’s also the recurring issue of bargaining rights that is destined to come before the state Supreme Court. We can go all the way back to 2011 and draw a few lessons to help us get to a victory on April Fool’s Day. You may recall that the world saw the largest protest in Wisconsin history unfold to oppose then-governor Scott Walker’s attack on collective bargaining rights in the form of Wisconsin Act 10. Wisconsinites rightfully came into the streets, onto  campus grounds and through public squares to defend protections for public sector workers. In 1959, Wisconsin became the first state in the U.S. to provide bargaining rights to public employees — a fiercely proud victory to defend.

The mighty protests should’ve paved the way for public employees and other organized workers to gain significant ground. Sadly, the bill passed the legislature, was signed by Walker and was upheld by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. What I think was missing then was the ability of the Democrats to use the political momentum to mount a strategic and robust  offensive to successfully recall Walker, defeat incumbent justice David Prosser and build a slate of viable candidates to gain a majority in the state legislature. The recall of two Republican senators helped as did the election of Janet Protasiewicz to the state Supreme Court. It was not enough.

State Democrats have to organize smarter, acknowledging that they cannot compete with a billionaire’s deep pockets. They must educate voters about the value of voters who live, work and recreate in Wisconsin. These voters have a personal stake in electing candidates who will protect their futures, not the portfolios of billionaires.

Wisconsin has often set the bar for uplifting this democracy. This election — and others that follow —will be a referendum on whether voters can be motivated and mobilized to overwhelm the polls to say no to dictatorship and yes to democracy.