Musk’s $1M Voter Payout Fuels Fire in Wisconsin SCOUTS Race/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Elon Musk ignited political controversy after awarding a $1 million prize to a Wisconsin voter just days before a pivotal state Supreme Court election. Critics called the move corrupt and linked it to pending Tesla litigation and broader political influence.
Musk’s $1M Wisconsin Prize: Quick Look
- Elon Musk announced a $1M prize to a Wisconsin voter ahead of a major election.
- Critics allege election interference, calling it an attempt to influence judicial outcomes.
- Wisconsin Supreme Court race could flip ideological control of the bench.
- Musk’s PAC runs political sweepstakes in key battleground states.
- No proof of voting required for Musk’s petition-signing incentive.
- Tesla has pending litigation in Wisconsin that may reach the court.
- Democrat-backed Susan Crawford faces GOP-supported Brad Schimel in high-stakes race.
- $81M spent on the race, breaking national records for judicial contests.
- Legal experts raise red flags over potential violations of election law.
- Musk’s groups have spent millions supporting conservative candidates nationwide.
Musk’s $1M Voter Payout Fuels Fire in Wisconsin SCOUTS Race
Deep Look
Billionaire Elon Musk once again finds himself at the center of political uproar, this time in Wisconsin, where he announced a $1 million prize awarded to a state voter just days before a fiercely contested state Supreme Court election. The surprise payout, made via Musk’s social media platform X, has drawn swift condemnation from Democrats and election watchdogs, who say it’s a brazen attempt to sway the outcome of a race that could reshape the court’s ideological balance.
The Tuesday election will determine whether Wisconsin’s high court maintains its current 4-3 liberal majority or flips to a conservative majority, potentially influencing decisions on voting rights, abortion, and future litigation involving Musk’s own electric vehicle company, Tesla. Musk is backing Republican-endorsed candidate Brad Schimel, while Democrats are supporting Susan Crawford.
The $1 million prize, awarded to a voter in Green Bay, mirrors tactics Musk’s political action committee used during the 2024 presidential campaign, when it offered lottery-style giveaways in swing states to mobilize voters. Although the initiative claims to promote constitutional values like support for the First and Second Amendments, critics argue that it’s effectively paying voters — a potential felony under Wisconsin election law.
“It’s corrupt, it’s extreme, and it’s disgraceful to our state and judiciary,” said Derrick Honeyman, spokesperson for Crawford’s campaign.
While no legal complaint has been filed, election integrity advocates like Common Cause Wisconsin are raising alarms.
“Whether or not Wisconsinites will believe this is legitimate or not probably won’t be settled until after the election,” said executive director Jay Heck. “But this is not how judicial races should be decided.”
Adding to concerns, Tesla currently has an active lawsuit in Wisconsin that could be reviewed by the very court in question — intensifying scrutiny over Musk’s deep financial involvement in the race.
America First PAC, Musk’s political vehicle, recently offered $100 payments to voters who signed a petition opposing so-called “activist judges.” Wednesday’s announcement of the $1 million prize, with a second winner expected in two days, came as a surprise twist, with no transparency about how the winner was selected.
While the petition did not require proof of voting, it was limited to registered Wisconsin voters. The language aligns with Trump-era talking points criticizing judges perceived as obstructing conservative policy.
The petition reads:
“Judges should interpret laws as written, not rewrite them to fit their personal or political agendas.”
This approach also reflects the agenda of President Trump, who has endorsed Schimel and directed legal reforms targeting executive branch overreach and regulatory rollback.
The scale of spending in this race is unprecedented. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, over $81 million has been poured into the contest, smashing the previous national record for a judicial election of $51 million — also set in Wisconsin in 2023. Of that total, Musk-linked organizations including America First PAC and Building for America’s Future have contributed more than $17 million.
Musk has also donated $3 million directly to the Wisconsin Republican Party, which can channel unlimited funds to Schimel’s campaign under state law.
Notably, similar legal challenges to Musk’s sweepstakes were unsuccessful during the presidential race. In Pennsylvania, the district attorney of Philadelphia filed suit to stop the program, but a judge declined, saying prosecutors failed to prove it was an illegal lottery.
Crawford’s supporters, however, say the pattern is clear: massive cash prizes tied to data collection and voter mobilization efforts designed to tilt close elections.
Meanwhile, Tufts University professor of law Sheila Arnett warned that “even if technically legal, the perception of undue influence erodes public trust in elections — especially when a billionaire with court cases at stake funds it.”
For Musk, this is both a political experiment and a power play. But for Wisconsin, it may determine the trajectory of its judicial system for years to come.
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