Wisconsin Court Lets Elon Musk Giveaway Proceed \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A Wisconsin appellate court denied the Democratic attorney general’s attempt to block Elon Musk from giving $1 million each to two voters just ahead of a pivotal state Supreme Court election. Musk’s giveaway is part of a broader campaign against “activist judges” in support of conservative candidate Brad Schimel. The race concludes Tuesday and could shift ideological control of the court.
Elon Musk’s Wisconsin Giveaway – Quick Looks
- Appeals court declines to block Musk’s planned voter payouts
- Musk offering $1 million each to two petition signers
- $100 also offered to anyone signing anti-judge petition
- AG Josh Kaul says payments violate state election law
- Lower court declined emergency injunction request Saturday morning
- Musk backs Brad Schimel; Democrats support Susan Crawford
- More than $20 million spent by Musk-funded groups
- Court balance at stake: current 4–3 liberal majority in play
- Musk’s tactics mirror pre-2024 presidential election efforts
- State Supreme Court expected to weigh in on abortion, redistricting, voting rules
Deep Look
The high-stakes battle over control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court took another dramatic turn Saturday, as the state Court of Appeals rejected Attorney General Josh Kaul’s request to stop Elon Musk from giving away $2 million to voters—a controversial plan that critics claim violates state election law.
The decision clears the way for Musk to move forward with a Sunday rally in which he has vowed to personally hand out $1 million checks to two voters who signed an online petition opposing “activist judges.” The rally comes just two days before Tuesday’s judicial election, which will determine ideological control of the state’s highest court.
Kaul, a Democrat, filed an emergency lawsuit Friday, arguing that Musk’s offer constitutes a felony under Wisconsin law, which prohibits giving anything of value in exchange for voting. After a county court refused to hear the injunction request Saturday morning, Kaul quickly appealed, but the appellate court declined to intervene.
Though Musk deleted his original social media post on X (formerly Twitter) that referred to the direct cash payments to voters who already cast ballots, Kaul said the lack of a formal announcement canceling the payments keeps the plan live—and problematic.
Millions on the Line in Record-Breaking Race
The legal showdown comes amid a record-breaking judicial campaign, with more than $20 million already funneled into the race by Musk and groups aligned with him. On the other side, Democratic donors including George Soros have thrown support behind Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, while Musk and Trump have backed Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel.
The race has national implications, as the Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to soon decide major cases involving abortion rights, congressional redistricting, union powers, and election rules—issues that could shape not only Wisconsin politics but the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election.
Currently, liberals hold a narrow 4–3 majority, but with a retirement looming, the balance is in play.
Legal Gray Area or Election Law Violation?
At the center of the controversy is Musk’s political action committee, which used similar tactics during the 2024 presidential campaign. That initiative offered $1 million per day to petition-signers in seven battleground states, including Wisconsin, in support of the First and Second Amendments.
At the time, a Pennsylvania judge ruled that prosecutors failed to prove the effort constituted an illegal lottery, allowing it to proceed.
In Wisconsin, however, Kaul contends that Musk’s current plan directly violates election laws by incentivizing participation in an election-related petition with substantial payouts. The giveaway is particularly sensitive since the recipients are voters who have already cast ballots, blurring the line between civic participation and financial reward.
The petition itself, hosted online, criticizes “activist judges” and encourages Wisconsinites to oppose liberal judicial influence. In addition to the million-dollar awards, Musk’s PAC is offering $100 payments to anyone who signs or shares the petition—another move Kaul argues is designed to improperly influence voter behavior.
Political Fallout Intensifies
The issue has become a flashpoint in the final days before Election Day, intensifying scrutiny on both Musk and the Trump-aligned conservative campaign. Trump has personally endorsed Schimel, while Musk has actively promoted the petition and the upcoming rally to his tens of millions of followers.
Musk’s influence has become deeply polarizing, with critics accusing him of using his fortune to sway democratic institutions, while supporters say his efforts are an exercise in free speech and political expression.
Despite the court setbacks, Kaul has not ruled out further legal action. In his filings, he warned that allowing Musk’s payouts to proceed without challenge could set a dangerous precedent, effectively enabling billionaires to legally compensate voters for their election participation under the guise of petitioning.
As of Saturday night, Musk had not rescinded the Sunday event or denied that the payments would be made.
With millions in funding, a close race, and ideological control of the court at stake, the Wisconsin Supreme Court election has become a national battleground—one where the limits of election law, political influence, and billionaire power are all being tested in real time.
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