Elon Musk is pulling out all the stops ahead of a closely watched Wisconsin state Supreme Court election.
In his biggest post-2024 bet so far, Musk is set to campaign in the state ahead of Tuesday’s election. He also wrote on X that he will be personally handing out a pair of $1 million checks, reprising a controversial tactic his political organization deployed ahead of the 2024 presidential race.
“On Sunday night, I will give a talk in Wisconsin,” Musk wrote on X. “Entrance is limited to those who have voted in the Supreme Court election. I will also personally hand over two checks for a million dollars each in appreciation for you taking the time to vote. This is super important.”
Wisconsin law prohibits offering “anything of value” to someone in exchange for their vote. Noted election law expert Rick Hasen has said that Musk’s offer runs afoul of this.
Musk and America PAC have spent over $12 million on the race to decide the outcome of the state’s highest court through 2028.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court, though officially nonpartisan, currently has a 4-3 liberal majority. Republicans are particularly worried about the possibility that the state’s congressional districts could be redrawn, cutting into their 6-2 advantage. The GOP holds a narrow majority in the US House of Representatives, meaning they need as much favorable territory as possible for the 2026 midterms.
“It could cause the House to switch to Democrat if that redrawing takes place,” Musk said during a recent X space with Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, expressing why he was so keyed into the race.
If Democrats’ favored candidate, Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, wins, liberals will hang onto their advantage through at least 2028. If Republicans’ preferred choice, Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel, wins, then conservatives will have a better chance given that the swing vote, Justice Brian Hagedorn, leans right. Justices serve 10-year terms, which based on the progression of retirements means liberals could retake the majority as soon as next year.
