Billionaire Elon Musk made a high-profile appearance in Wisconsin on Sunday, presenting two voters with million-dollar cheques while pledging smaller financial incentives to others who support a conservative candidate in the state’s fiercely contested Supreme Court election, according to Reuters.
The Tesla CEO, a key adviser to US President Donald Trump, distributed the symbolic oversized cheques at a rally in Green Bay, aiming to galvanise support in what has already become the most expensive judicial race in American history.
Unconventional campaign strategy
In addition to the million-dollar awards, Musk announced he would pay supporters $20 for each voter they recruit over the next two days. He framed the spending as necessary to counter the perceived lead of liberal candidate Susan Crawford over conservative Brad Schimel.
We actually are in serious danger of losing the election. We’ve got to pull a rabbit out of a hat.
The 1 April election will shape the ideological balance of Wisconsin’s Supreme Court, with upcoming rulings expected on pivotal issues such as abortion rights, labour laws, and potentially election regulations. Though officially nonpartisan, the race is widely viewed as an early test of Trump’s influence in a key battleground state.
Musk warned that a liberal-majority court could redraw legislative districts in a way that might cost Republicans US House seats.
I think this [election] will be important for the future of civilization. It’s that significant.
According to New York University’s Brennan Centre for Justice, groups linked to Musk have already poured at least 17.5 million into Schimel’s campaign — over one−fifth of the record 81 million spent statewide. The million-dollar giveaways mirror Musk’s tactics during the 2024 presidential race, where he financially rewarded voters backing conservative initiatives.
Wisconsin’s Democratic Attorney General, Josh Kaul, attempted to halt the payments through legal action, but the state Supreme Court allowed them to proceed, as reported by The Washington Post.
Musk’s expanding political influence
Musk’s involvement underscores his growing role in US politics. In 2024, he contributed over $250 million to Trump’s re-election bid–the largest individual donation–and his Wisconsin appearance signals a strategic push to influence lower-profile yet consequential races.
Trump has reportedly tasked Musk with leading a sweeping initiative to downsize the federal government, resulting in the closure of multiple agencies and mass layoffs of tens of thousands of workers.
As the Wisconsin judicial race nears its climax, Musk’s aggressive campaigning highlights the high stakes for both conservative priorities and the broader political landscape.
