Musk to Visit Wisconsin, Pay $2M to SCOUTS Voters/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Elon Musk plans to personally award $2 million to two voters in Wisconsin ahead of the pivotal state Supreme Court election. His offer has sparked legal concerns over election law violations, as Wisconsin bans offering valuables for voting. The high-stakes race could shift ideological control of the court and influence national issues.
Elon Musk’s $2M Voter Giveaway Sparks Legal, Political Firestorm in Wisconsin Quick Looks
- Musk to host Sunday rally in Wisconsin, pledging $1M each to two voters
- Attendance limited to voters in Supreme Court race, raising legal concerns
- Wisconsin law forbids offering anything of value in exchange for voting
- Supreme Court race could flip ideological control of the bench
- Trump backs conservative Brad Schimel; Obama, Democrats back liberal Susan Crawford
- Musk PAC previously gave $1M to Green Bay voter for signing petition
- Legal questions arise over petition linked to $100 rewards
- Wisconsin AG, courts may ultimately rule on legality of Musk’s move
Musk to Visit Wisconsin, Pay $2M to SCOUTS Voters
Deep Look
Billionaire Elon Musk is stirring controversy in Wisconsin with a high-profile — and legally questionable — pledge to hand out $2 million in cash prizes to voters ahead of the state’s critical Supreme Court election.
On Thursday night, Musk announced on his social media platform X that he plans to personally deliver two $1 million checks at a rally Sunday in Wisconsin, just two days before voters decide who will fill a seat that could shift the ideological balance of the court.
“Attendance will be limited to those who have voted,” Musk posted, without clarifying how voter participation would be verified. “This is super important,” he added, referring to the court race.
His announcement immediately triggered concerns about whether the move violates Wisconsin state law, which prohibits offering or giving “anything of value” to induce a person to vote — a felony offense.
Musk did not specify how the recipients were chosen, and a spokesperson for his political action committee declined to say whether the Green Bay voter who previously received $1 million for signing a political petition was among the Sunday winners.
Court Race with National Stakes
The high-profile Wisconsin Supreme Court race pits conservative Brad Schimel, a former state attorney general and current Waukesha County judge, against Susan Crawford, a liberal-backed Dane County judge. The outcome could flip the court’s ideological majority and influence key decisions on abortion rights, redistricting, union power, and voting laws.
Republicans have thrown their support behind Schimel, including President Donald Trump, who held a tele-town hall for the candidate Thursday night.
“It’s not just a local race — the whole country is watching,” Trump said.
Democrats, including former President Barack Obama, back Crawford. The court currently holds a 4-3 liberal majority, but the retirement of a liberal justice has made the seat up for grabs.
Musk’s Political Involvement Expands
Musk has become an active player in political campaigns nationwide through his PAC, which has spent more than $20 million supporting Schimel. Meanwhile, billionaire George Soros has donated $2 million to support Crawford, and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has contributed $1.5 million.
This isn’t Musk’s first foray into voter payouts. During the 2024 presidential race, his PAC offered $1 million daily to voters in Wisconsin and six other swing states who signed a petition backing the First and Second Amendments. That effort faced legal scrutiny in Philadelphia, where the district attorney sued to block it. A judge ultimately allowed it to continue, citing insufficient evidence of an illegal lottery.
In Wisconsin, Musk’s PAC recently offered $100 to any registered voter who signed or forwarded a petition against activist judges — prompting new questions about whether that too violated election laws.
Legal and Political Reactions
Wisconsin’s Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul has not yet commented on Musk’s latest move. However, critics argue the $2 million giveaway clearly crosses legal boundaries.
“Wisconsinites don’t want a billionaire like Musk telling them who to vote for,” said Derrick Honeyman, a spokesperson for Crawford’s campaign. He called Musk’s planned rally a “last-minute desperate distraction.”
Schimel’s campaign did not confirm whether he would appear with Musk at Sunday’s event. In an interview with WISN-TV, Schimel said he opted not to sign Musk’s petition himself, despite opposing activist judges.
“I thought, ‘Should I sign it? But I don’t think I should do that,’” Schimel said. As for the $1 million prize, he added, “I don’t know what the criteria to get it was.”
Tesla’s Legal Interests at Stake?
Musk became involved in the Wisconsin race shortly after his company, Tesla, filed a lawsuit challenging state rules that prohibit automakers from directly selling vehicles to consumers. That case could eventually land before the Wisconsin Supreme Court — raising further concerns that Musk is seeking to sway the court for personal or corporate interests.
Crawford’s campaign has warned that Musk’s involvement in the race represents an attempt to buy influence with the court.
Massive Spending and High Stakes
More than $81 million has been spent on the race, far exceeding the previous U.S. record for a judicial election — $51 million, set in Wisconsin just two years ago, according to the Brennan Center.
Wisconsin’s court decisions carry national weight. The state has long been a presidential battleground: Trump won it in 2016 and 2024, while Biden narrowly took it in 2020. Voting rules, redistricting, and abortion rights in Wisconsin could shape national politics through the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election.
With legal questions swirling and the stakes sky-high, any challenge to Musk’s $2 million giveaway could end up being decided by the very court it may influence.
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