On Saturday, a Wisconsin judge refused to block billionaire Elon Musk from giving $1 million checks to two voters in the state at an upcoming rally, just days before a closely contested Supreme Court election. The state attorney general, arguing that this offer violates the law, immediately appealed the decision after the judge denied an emergency injunction request to halt the payments. This development adds another layer to Musk’s significant involvement in the race, which has seen record spending and is seen as a test for the early days of the Trump administration. Trump and Musk are supporting Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel, while Democrats are endorsing Dane County Judge Susan Crawford. Musk plans to host a rally on Sunday where he will award $1 million each to two Wisconsin voters for signing an online petition against “activist” judges. He is also offering $100 to anyone who signs the petition; previously, he gave $1 million to a Green Bay man who signed it. Musk and his affiliated groups have invested over $20 million in the election, while Democratic donors, such as George Soros, are backing Crawford. The outcome of the race will determine the ideological balance of the court, with liberals holding a 4-3 majority currently, but with a potential shift due to a retirement this year. The election will be finalized on Tuesday. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, filed a lawsuit on Friday to block the payments from Musk’s America PAC, arguing that they violate a state law that deems it a felony to offer voters anything of value in exchange for their votes. After being denied by Columbia County Circuit Judge Andrew Voigt, Kaul announced his intention to take the case to the state Court of Appeals. Musk’s political action committee previously employed a similar strategy before the presidential election last year, offering $1 million per day to voters in Wisconsin and six other battleground states who supported the First and Second Amendments through a petition. A Pennsylvania judge ruled that the initiative was not an illegal lottery and allowed it to continue until Election Day. The Wisconsin Supreme Court election is crucial as the court is expected to issue rulings on key issues like abortion rights, congressional redistricting, union influence, and voting regulations that could impact the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election. Initially, Musk stated on his social media platform, X, that he planned to personally award $2 million to two voters who had already voted in the election. Kaul requested the court to compel Musk to cease promoting the upcoming giveaway and to refrain from making further payments to Wisconsin voters. Despite the deletion of Musk’s initial post, there has been no confirmation that the payments will not be made, as stated in the lawsuit. Associated Press writer Scott Bauer contributed to this coverage.
