After Wisconsin Loss, GOP Shrugs Off Elon Musk’s Growing Political Controversy

Despite a bruising loss in Wisconsin’s high-profile Supreme Court race—where Elon Musk played a central role—Republican leaders are largely brushing off concerns about the billionaire’s growing political liability.

While Democrats have seized on Musk as a galvanizing symbol of elite overreach and unpopular federal cuts, Republicans are doubling down, treating the criticism as noise and standing firmly by their most powerful unelected ally.

“I doubt there’s a candidate in the country that wouldn’t want Elon to come in and help campaign with them,” said GOP strategist Dave Carney.

“Without Elon, the Democrat would’ve outspent us even more. He helped keep us in the fight.”

But not everyone in the party is quite so certain.

With Democrats sharpening their attacks and recent polling showing a split public perception of Musk, some conservatives are quietly questioning whether his high-profile activism—complete with million-dollar voter giveaways and anti-judge petitions—is helping or hurting the GOP long-term.

In the lead-up to Wisconsin’s election, Musk’s involvement was anything but subtle. He and President Trump both endorsed conservative candidate Brad Schimel.

Musk’s America PAC poured nearly **$13 million** into the race.

And in a headline-grabbing final push, Musk personally flew to Wisconsin days before the election to hand out $1 million checks to voters who signed his petition against so-called “activist judges.”

While Republicans celebrated similar-day wins in two Florida House specials—albeit with underwhelming margins—it was Wisconsin that delivered a wake-up call.

Democratic turnout surged, and their candidate, Janet Crawford, rode a wave of anti-Musk sentiment to an upset victory in a swing state that had backed Trump just months earlier.

Some GOP insiders argue that the dynamics in Wisconsin were unique, shaped more by local judicial politics than by Musk’s presence.

“On April 1, certainly the anger that Democrats have toward Musk and Trump helped propel additional votes for Crawford,” said Wisconsin Republican strategist Mark Graul.

“That doesn’t explain the whole margin, but it was part of the mix.”

Yet others believe Musk's personal approach—placing himself in the center of the race rather than operating behind the scenes—may have backfired.

“My personal opinion is, had Musk, like other millionaires and billionaires, just put his money in and gone on to do other things, it might have been a little different,” said Brandon Scholz, a former Wisconsin GOP executive director.

“But when he became part of the campaign, when he became part of the ballot with Schimel, that started to erode some of what Schimel needed.”

Scholz isn’t alone in that view. Even Musk himself seemed to acknowledge the strategic risks. “I expected to lose,” he posted on his platform X after the race. “But there is value to losing a piece for a positional gain.”

What exactly that “positional gain” is remains unclear. But it underscores Musk’s belief that politics, like chess or business, is a long game—and that his loss in Wisconsin doesn’t signal retreat.

If Republicans have tried to minimize Musk’s impact, Democrats have leaned into it hard.

They now portray him as the face of Washington overreach—an unelected, ultra-wealthy disruptor responsible for dramatic federal workforce cuts and deep institutional upheaval through his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

“He’s a liability,” said Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. “And I think we may view him right now the same way the voters do.”

Wisconsin State Assembly Leader Greta Neubauer (D) was even more blunt.

“I consistently heard that people are not happy with Elon Musk,” Neubauer said of her conversations while canvassing.

“They found it insulting that he came to Wisconsin, put on a cheesehead, and offered people a million dollars for voting. It just felt gross.”

Indeed, Musk’s brand of tech-world bravado doesn’t always translate well to midwestern sensibilities.

While his aggressive efficiency measures through DOGE have found support among some fiscal conservatives, the human cost—particularly federal layoffs—has drawn widespread criticism.

Recent polling shows a divided public. An NBC News survey released last month found that 46% of respondents support DOGE’s mission of slashing government bureaucracy, while 40% oppose it.

But when asked about Elon Musk himself, only 39% held a favorable opinion, compared to 51% who viewed him negatively.

Even more telling were the breakdowns:

- 33% of voters believe DOGE should continue aggressively.
- 28% said it should slow down to assess impact.
- 33% called it reckless and said it should stop immediately.

That split mirrors the growing tension inside the GOP itself. Many strategists want Musk’s money, innovation, and anti-establishment energy—but fear his persona may turn off moderate or suburban voters.

“Musk is polarizing,” said one GOP operative who requested anonymity. “And in a general election, you can’t only speak to the base. You need to expand your coalition, not shrink it.”

Despite the grumbling in some corners, the highest levels of the Republican Party continue to embrace Musk.

President Trump, speaking to reporters last month, praised Musk’s contributions to both the administration and the campaign.

“I think he’s amazing, but I also think he’s got a big company to run,” Trump said. “At some point, he’s going to be going back. He wants to. I’d keep him as long as I can keep him.”

Vice President J.D. Vance went even further, calling Musk a “friend and adviser” and suggesting that his influence will remain strong even after his formal departure from Washington.

“Elon is going to remain part of the brain trust, regardless of where he physically is,” Vance said Thursday.

And according to sources close to Musk, he has no plans to fade from politics. One adviser said the billionaire is already looking at races this fall and in 2026 where he might deploy resources—and himself.

Republicans insist they’re already looking beyond Wisconsin. Two special elections in Florida, where GOP candidates underperformed but still won, offer them a foothold.

And strategists are hoping to solve what they call the “off-year turnout problem”—finding ways to get federal voters to show up for state-level races.

“If there’s creative ways to solve those off-year problems… we need to engage all those options,” said conservative strategist Bill Keady. “And if Elon Musk is one of those options, then we’re not closing that door.”

Still, the question remains: can Musk be a net positive for the GOP moving forward? Or has his presence become more of a lightning rod than a launchpad?

It’s a question some Republicans are wary to ask out loud.

Musk’s political journey—from behind-the-scenes PAC donor to front-facing campaigner, from efficiency czar to MAGA icon—has been rapid, dramatic, and deeply polarizing.

Whether his brand of disruption continues to energize the Republican base—or alienates swing voters—could help determine control of Congress in 2026.

For now, the GOP is sticking with him. But after Wisconsin, even some allies are watching closely.

“There’s a fine line between being a visionary and becoming the story,” said one longtime conservative consultant.

“If Musk can’t stay behind the curtain, he might pull the whole show down with him.”