Musk-Funded PAC Offers $100 Ahead of Wisconsin Court Race/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A political group funded by Elon Musk is offering $100 to Wisconsin voters who sign a petition opposing “activist judges” ahead of the state’s pivotal Supreme Court election. The move has drawn criticism from Democrats, who accuse Musk of attempting to influence the outcome. The race between Susan Crawford and Brad Schimel could shift the ideological balance of the court.
Musk PAC in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race: Quick Looks
- Elon Musk’s PAC is offering $100 per petition signature in Wisconsin
- The petition campaign comes ahead of the April 1 Supreme Court election
- Democratic candidate Susan Crawford accuses Musk of trying to buy votes
- The winner could decide major rulings on abortion, voting, and unions
- Musk’s PAC previously ran similar efforts in battleground states in 2024
- Tesla, led by Musk, recently sued Wisconsin; the case may reach the court
- Musk openly supports Republican candidate Brad Schimel on social media
- Musk-backed PACs have spent over $13 million on the race
Musk-Funded PAC Offers $100 Ahead Wisconsin Court Race
Deep Look
Musk-Backed PAC Offers Voter Incentives Ahead of Critical Wisconsin Supreme Court Election
With just weeks to go before Wisconsin’s high-stakes state Supreme Court election, a political action committee funded by billionaire Elon Musk has launched a controversial campaign offering voters $100 to sign a petition opposing so-called “activist judges.” The initiative, announced Thursday night by America PAC, comes as early voting is already underway in a race that could determine the ideological makeup of the state’s highest court.
America PAC, one of Musk’s primary political arms, posted the petition offer on X (formerly Twitter), promising not only $100 per signature but also an additional $100 for each successful referral. The effort is aimed at energizing support for conservative candidate Brad Schimel, who faces Democratic-backed Susan Crawford in the April 1 election.
Critics, including the Crawford campaign, are calling the move a blatant attempt to influence the election with money.
“Elon Musk is trying to buy a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court to secure a favorable ruling in his company’s lawsuit against the state,” said campaign spokesperson Derrick Honeyman.
Just days before Musk-affiliated groups began spending on this judicial race, Tesla, the electric vehicle company he leads, filed suit against the state of Wisconsin over laws that block it from opening direct-to-consumer dealerships. Legal experts say the case could eventually make its way to the state Supreme Court, raising concerns about conflicts of interest if Musk’s favored candidate were to win.
Musk, also the CEO of SpaceX and a vocal political influencer, has not shied away from weighing in. “Very important to vote Republican for the Wisconsin Supreme Court to prevent voting fraud,” he posted on X in January, just over a week before Tesla’s lawsuit was filed.
America PAC’s latest petition echoes conservative rhetoric, stating: “Judges should interpret laws as written, not rewrite them to fit their personal or political agendas.” While framed as a call to judicial restraint, the campaign’s true function appears to be voter data collection and mobilization under the guise of civic action.
The tactic is not new. Last year, Musk’s America PAC ran a nearly identical operation ahead of the presidential election in seven battleground states, including Wisconsin. That campaign offered $1 million per day in voter payments. In Pennsylvania, prosecutors challenged the effort in court, but a judge allowed it to continue, ruling that it did not qualify as an illegal lottery.
According to data from the Brennan Center for Justice, Musk’s political groups — America PAC and Building for America’s Future — have poured more than $13 million into supporting Schimel’s candidacy. That funding has gone toward digital ads, flyers, and petition-driven outreach, often tying Schimel closely to former President Donald Trump.
Schimel has also actively campaigned with Trump surrogates. This week, he appeared at a rally alongside Donald Trump Jr., who called the race critical to preserving the former president’s political agenda. Flyers distributed by Musk-backed groups similarly promote Schimel as a pro-Trump conservative.
Meanwhile, Democrats and allies of Crawford have sought to spotlight the Musk-Schimel connection. The Wisconsin Democratic Party released a campaign ad this week accusing Musk of attempting to buy influence over the court, warning that rulings on abortion rights, redistricting, public sector unions, and voter access are at stake.
Building for America’s Future, Musk’s other PAC, underscored the campaign strategy in an internal memo Thursday. “To defeat Susan Crawford, we must present Schimel as a pro-Trump conservative,” the memo stated.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court currently holds a slim liberal majority. The outcome of this race will determine whether that balance is maintained or shifts back to conservative control, potentially shaping state policy for years to come.
Musk and his affiliated groups have not addressed concerns about potential conflicts involving the Tesla lawsuit. When asked for comment, America PAC referred reporters to its petition announcement. The Schimel campaign did not immediately respond to media inquiries.
As early voting continues, questions loom about the legality, ethics, and effectiveness of financial incentives in voter engagement efforts. What’s clear is that the race has drawn unprecedented national attention—and money—as both sides battle for control of Wisconsin’s judicial future.
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