Elon Musk’s Controversial Wisconsin Visit Ahead of Supreme Court Election
In a move that has sent ripples through the political landscape, Elon Musk is set to visit Wisconsin this Sunday, just days ahead of a pivotal Supreme Court election in the state.
Musk first unveiled his plans in a post shortly after midnight on Friday, initially promising a $1 million giveaway to two attendees who had voted. However, legal experts quickly raised alarms about the implications of this offer, leading Musk to delete the post. He later clarified that the giveaway would be restricted to those who signed a petition circulated by his super PAC, America PAC. This clarification did little to quell concerns, as Wisconsin’s Attorney General announced intentions to seek a court order to halt the giveaway.
This visit is part of Musk’s escalating involvement in Wisconsin’s political arena, where Republican candidate Brad Schimel is vying against Democrat Susan Crawford for control of the state’s Supreme Court—a contest that could shape the future of critical issues like abortion rights and legislative maps. Musk’s political organization has already poured over $12 million into this race, with Musk himself contributing a striking $3 million to the Wisconsin Republican Party.
In a Friday afternoon post, Musk announced that the event would take place on Sunday night and would only be open to those who signed America PAC’s petition. He reiterated his intention to hand out two $1 million checks during the event.
The earlier post, which was deleted, had specified that attendance and eligibility for the million-dollar payout would be limited to those who had already voted in the Supreme Court election. This raised eyebrows and legal questions, as Wisconsin’s election bribery law prohibits offering “anything of value” to influence voter behavior. With early voting already underway and concluding on Sunday, the situation is fraught with potential legal complications.
Brendan Fischer, a campaign finance lawyer and deputy executive director at Documented, expressed surprise at Musk’s direct association of the giveaway with voter participation. He noted, “His tweet makes it very clear that you can only enter this event, and you can only be eligible for the million dollar payout, if you voted, and it’s hard to read that as anything other than providing a thing of value to induce a person to vote, or to reward them for having voted.”
This gimmicky approach is not uncharted territory for Musk. In the lead-up to the 2024 election, America PAC offered a similar $1 million giveaway to supporters who signed a petition advocating for the First Amendment. Despite facing legal challenges, judges ruled in Musk’s favor.
In Wisconsin, the group has employed a comparable strategy, promising $100 to voters who signed a petition titled “In Opposition To Activist Judges.” Just this past Wednesday, America PAC announced that they had issued a $1 million check to a Green Bay resident who participated.
“Elon, thank you,” expressed recipient Scott Ainsworth in a video shared by America PAC, where he encouraged MAGA voters to head to the polls and support Schimel.
Musk is rapidly emerging as a formidable figure in Republican politics. Having launched America PAC in the spring of 2024, he has committed hundreds of millions of dollars to this initiative, primarily to finance canvassing efforts in support of Donald Trump’s election campaign. He has vowed that the group will remain active in the coming years, with the Wisconsin Supreme Court race serving as its inaugural major investment post-Trump’s victory.
This election is already on track to become the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history, eclipsing even the previous Wisconsin Supreme Court race in 2023. While liberals currently dominate the state’s highest court, which influences critical issues from abortion rights to legislative redistricting, Democrats have also opened their wallets wide for this contest. Notably, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker contributed $1.5 million to support Crawford, while notable donor George Soros chipped in $2 million.
Yet, no individual has matched Musk’s financial commitment. Democrats in Wisconsin have sought to frame the race as a referendum on Musk and his significant political clout. A recent aerial protest over Milwaukee featured a banner reading, “Go Home Elon. Vote Susan,” emphasizing the growing concern over Musk’s influence in the state.
