Elon Musk awarded $1 million checks to two Wisconsin voters on Sunday, declaring them as spokespeople for his political group. This announcement came ahead of a critical Wisconsin supreme court election which Musk portrayed as crucial to Donald Trump’s agenda and “the future of civilization.” Speaking to a crowd of approximately 2,000 in Green Bay, Musk emphasized the importance of his presence, stating, “I’m not phoning it in. I’m here in person.”
Musk and organizations he supports have spent over $20 million in support of conservative candidate Brad Schimel, whose victory in Tuesday’s race would significantly influence the ideological composition of a court that may decide on key issues in this politically sensitive state. Musk’s involvement in the contest has drawn protests from liberal candidate Susan Crawford and her supporters, who are concerned about Musk’s potential influence on the court.
Musk highlighted the significance of the state supreme court’s potential involvement in redistricting congressional districts, which could impact the control of the US House of Representatives. He warned that if the supreme court redraws the districts, those in political control could gerrymander to disadvantage Republicans and undermine government reforms.
In a legal dispute, Wisconsin’s Democratic attorney general, Josh Kaul, attempted to block Musk from distributing the checks, arguing that it violates state law by offering incentives for voting. However, both lower courts and the state supreme court, which is currently dominated by a 4-3 majority of liberal justices, declined to hear the case. None of the justices provided reasons for their decision, and all have endorsed Crawford.
Musk’s legal team countered that the gifts are a form of free speech and that any restriction on this would violate both the Wisconsin and US constitutions. This mirrors a similar tactic from last year when Musk promised $1 million a day to voters in Wisconsin and other key states who supported a petition for the First and Second Amendments, which a Pennsylvania judge allowed to continue through Election Day.
Musk also asked two liberal justices who actively campaigned for Crawford – Jill Karofsky and Rebecca Dallet – to recuse from the case, suggesting that their actions could create a “spectre of inappropriate bias.” The justices declined this request, citing that they would explain their refusal at a later time.
Wisconsin’s conservative justice has Previously endorsed Schimel, the GOP-backed candidate, who has committed to rejecting activist judges and following the law, a stance seen as aligning with requests from both President Trump and Musk.
This judicial election has set records for spending, with more than $81 million poured into the race by various groups, including Musk. The outcome will not only determine the court’s makeup but may also have far-reaching effects on Wisconsin’s policies, including those on abortion rights, congressional redistricting, union power, and voting rules, which could be critical for future elections.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/mar/31/elon-musk-1-million-dollar-checks-wisconsin-voters-supreme-court-election
