Last night, something remarkable happened in Wisconsin. In a special election many thought would fly under the radar, the people delivered a sharp, resounding answer to a question the nation keeps asking: Is democracy still ours?
It was a small race on paper — a state Supreme Court seat. But the forces lined up on each side made the contest feel like a dress rehearsal for the soul of the republic. On one end stood Susan Crawford, a progressive jurist promising judicial integrity, reproductive freedom, and fair maps. On the other loomed a machine: Donald Trump’s endorsement, Elon Musk’s money, and a creeping belief that America can be bought, piece by piece, one Supreme Court seat at a time.
They lost.
That matters.
Musk tried everything. Seven-figure checks, cash-for-petition gimmicks, political theater masked as innovation — all in service of shaping a judiciary that would rubber-stamp a dangerous reordering of government. What he and his allies forgot is that no amount of money can silence voters who understand what’s at stake.
Turnout in Wisconsin rivaled midterms. Ballots ran out in Milwaukee precincts. Black, Latino, and working-class communities came out not just to support a candidate, but to push back against what this new era of techno-authoritarianism looks like when left unchecked. Democrats, who’ve been searching for their message in a post-Trump world, may have found it: defending the idea that America should not be ruled by unelected billionaires and their pet policies.
This wasn’t just a repudiation of Trumpism. It was a rejection of the cynical idea that government should be gutted, courts stacked, and the public ignored in favor of private power. Republicans can dismiss it as a blip. They can blame “special election dynamics” or voter enthusiasm gaps. But that does not explain a 9-point loss in a 50/50 state or why deep-red counties flipped purple under the weight of their own buyer’s remorse.
The lesson is clear: Democracy is still fighting back.
No, one race does not reverse the tides of authoritarianism, nor does it stop the damage already done. But it proves the fight is winnable. It reminds us that even in an era of apathy, disinformation, and unchecked capital, ballots still matter. Organizing still works. Truth still resonates.
Last night was a small victory.
Let’s not forget how rare — and how powerful — that is.
For a broader conversation, see the more public-facing version of this piece on my LinkedIn profile.