Elon Musk Offers Cash to Wisconsin Voters Before Supreme Court Election

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Billionaire Elon Musk, a longtime Trump supporter, is making waves again. This time he is backing a cash giveaway for Wisconsin voters who sign a petition against what he calls “activist judges.” With a key state supreme court election just days away, the move is sparking debate over money’s influence in politics.

Trump has been pushing courts across the country to stop blocking his policies, and Musk seems to be right there with him. Judges have recently delayed efforts by Trump’s team to shake up the federal government through Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency.

A pro-Trump political group, America PAC, which Musk helped fund, announced it would hand out $100 to Wisconsin voters who sign a petition opposing judges they see as too political.

Musk even shared the petition on his social media site X, urging people to sign before the April 1 deadline, right before the state’s supreme court election.

The PAC is fully backing conservative candidate Brad Schimel for the court’s open seat.

“Judges should follow the law as written, not twist it to fit their own views,” the group posted on X. “Wisconsin voters get $100 for signing the petition and another $100 for every person they get to sign.”

During the 2024 presidential race, America PAC also ran a daily $1 million lottery for random petition signers in swing states.

Last October, the Justice Department under then-president Joe Biden warned Musk and America PAC that these giveaways might break federal law, which bans paying people to register to vote.

Musk’s latest petition push comes right after Trump lashed out at a judge on Tuesday for saying his administration ignored an order to stop deporting migrants to El Salvador.

Trump even called for the impeachment of District Judge James Boasberg, calling him “a troublemaker and agitator.” The attack was so aggressive that the US Supreme Court chief justice felt the need to publicly respond, something that rarely happens.

In the Wisconsin election, Republican-backed Schimel is up against Democrat-backed Susan Crawford.

“Elon Musk is trying to buy a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court so he can get a favorable ruling in his company’s lawsuit against the state,” Crawford’s campaign said in a statement.

Musk’s company Tesla is fighting Wisconsin’s refusal to let automakers own dealerships. If the case makes it to the state’s top court, the outcome could directly affect Tesla’s business.

“Brad Schimel has always looked out for wealthy donors and special interests,” said Derrick Honeyman, a spokesperson for Crawford’s campaign. “Musk wants a justice who will take his side and protect his business.”