Madison: Billionaire Elon Musk handed out two $1 million checks to voters in Wisconsin on Sunday, intensifying his push to influence the state’s Supreme Court election. The Tesla CEO, a key adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, also pledged smaller payments to supporters who help elect conservative candidate Brad Schimel in what has become the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history.
At a rally in Green Bay, Musk presented oversized checks and announced a voter recruitment initiative, offering $20 for every additional voter recruited over the next two days.
“We actually are in serious danger of losing the election,” Musk said. “We’ve got to pull a rabbit out of a hat.”
The April 1 contest is set to shape the ideological balance of Wisconsin’s top court, with major decisions looming on abortion rights, labor laws, and election regulations. Though officially nonpartisan, the race is widely viewed as a test of Trump’s influence in a battleground state. Recent polls suggest liberal candidate Susan Crawford holds a slight edge over Schimel.
Musk warned that the court’s potential redrawing of legislative districts could result in Republican losses in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“I think this will be important for the future of civilization. It’s that significant,” Musk said.
As of last week, Musk-affiliated groups had funneled at least $17.5 million into Schimel’s campaign, accounting for over one-fifth of the record-breaking $81 million spent on the race, according to New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice.
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The $1 million giveaways mirror Musk’s 2024 election tactics, where he financially incentivized voters to back conservative causes. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, filed a lawsuit seeking to block Musk’s cash incentives, but the state Supreme Court ruled in favor of allowing them to proceed, according to the Washington Post.
Musk’s deep-pocketed involvement underscores his increasing political influence beyond the presidential race. Having spent over $250 million to support Trump’s reelection—outspending any other individual donor—he now appears committed to shaping down-ballot races as well.
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Trump has entrusted Musk with overseeing an unprecedented effort to shrink the federal government, resulting in the closure of several agencies and the dismissal of tens of thousands of workers.
