Elon Musk has given two Wisconsin voters $1 million checks ahead of a key election for the state’s Supreme Court. The vote, scheduled for Tuesday, will determine the ideological balance of Wisconsin’s highest court, where four of the seven current justices hold liberal views.
State Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, attempted to block Musk’s payments at the last minute, arguing that state laws prohibit “offering anything of value in exchange for a vote.” However, his lawsuit was dismissed as the Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously refused to hear the case. The court’s decision came shortly before a political rally on Sunday, where Musk handed out checks to two citizens who had signed a petition against “activist judges.”
Musk’s lawyers stated that these donations do not violate the law. According to them, the billionaire was simply exercising his right to free speech, and the checks were meant to inspire a grassroots movement against activist judges, rather than to campaign for a specific candidate.
Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has been paying special attention to Wisconsin’s judicial election, calling it “crucial for the future of civilization.”
A close ally of Donald Trump, Musk emphasized that the state’s Supreme Court could play a decisive role in future federal elections, as it is responsible for cases concerning congressional redistricting. In his view, if the court remains under liberal influence, it will harm Republican interests.
