Musk deletes offer for $2 million for Wisconsin Supreme Court race
Elon Musk recently faced backlash after deleting a post where he announced a $2 million offer to voters in Wisconsin, linked to the upcoming Supreme court election. His initial declaration suggested he would campaign for conservative candidate Brad Schimel and personally distribute the funds. This raised legal concerns from Wisconsin Democrats, who accused Musk of election bribery, urging law enforcement to take action against him if he visited the state. The election is significant, as a victory for Schimel could shift the court’s current liberal majority, impacting future legislative matters, including abortion rights and electoral processes. The race has been intensified by Musk’s involvement, aligning him with Trump’s agenda. The potential results may influence both the 2026 midterm elections and the presidential election two years later, making Musk’s role crucial for Republican strategies in swing-state elections.
Musk deletes post offering $2 million in high-stakes Wisconsin Supreme Court race
MADISON, Wisconsin — A $2 million offer from Elon Musk to voters in Wisconsin‘s pivotal Supreme Court disappeared midday Friday from his social media site, leading to confusion as to whether the offer was real and whether the billionaire would be heading to the state Sunday.
A Friday morning post seemed to indicate Musk would be hitting the campaign trail on Sunday to stump for state Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel and personally hand out $2 million to voters.
Musk’s offer was met with strong pushback from Wisconsin Democrats, who accused him of breaking the law.
“Elon Musk has committed a blatant felony by offering money for votes in order to help Brad Schimel,” Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chairman Ben Wikler said. “Musk’s illegal election bribery scheme to put Brad Schimel on the Supreme Court is a chainsaw attack on democracy and the rule of law in Wisconsin and our nation.”
Wikler added that if “Elon Musk sets foot in Wisconsin, he should be placed in handcuffs and held accountable—just like any other criminal. Musk can have his day in court, but he cannot buy the court.”
Two Madison-based Republican operatives told the Washington Examiner they had only learned about Musk’s plans after he posted them on his social media site.
Musk has become a central figure in the high-profile race that pits Schimel, a conservative, against Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, a liberal, for a seat on the state Supreme Court.
A win for Schimel on Tuesday would flip the court’s 4-3 liberal majority. The outcome of the race could have a major impact on the 2026 midterm elections and the presidential race two years later.
Musk made the announcement Friday morning on X, his social media platform, saying he would give out a pair of $1 million checks to people who attend his speech. He did not mention Schimel by name, only that he would “give a talk in Wisconsin” and that it was “super important.”
The Tuesday contest is President Donald Trump and Musk’s first test with swing-state voters following a busy few months in office.
The president deployed Musk to help deliver a win in the Badger State. A lot is riding on Musk’s success there. A win for Schimel would cement Musk as a conservative kingmaker, and his efforts in Wisconsin could become the blueprint for the midterm elections. If Schimel loses, it would give Republicans license to distance themselves from Musk and some of his more controversial actions.
Republicans in Wisconsin have largely focused on Trump and his agenda, while Democrats have tried to turn the race into a referendum on Musk. During two campaign stops Thursday night, Schimel leaned into Musk’s involvement in the race. Schimel told his supporters at the Tuscan Hall Venue & Catering in Waukesha and at the Steel Tank Brewing Co. in Oconomowoc that after he received a telephone call from Trump about entering the race, the phone was handed over to Musk and then White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
A spokesman for Crawford said in a statement that Musk was trying to buy off Schimel and labeled his visit a “last-minute desperate distraction.”
On Thursday night, Trump also got involved, holding a “tele-townhall” for Schimel in which he told his base to vote for the state’s former Republican attorney general and stressed the outsize importance of the race.
“I know you feel it’s local, but it’s not,” Trump said during the call. “It’s really much more than local. The whole country’s watching.”
In Wisconsin, the state Supreme Court consists of seven justices elected to 10-year terms.
The court has the final say on everything from interpreting laws on abortion to gerrymandering to reviewing the actions of state officials.
Wisconsin has a Democratic governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general. Republicans control both chambers of the state legislature.
From 2009 to 2023, conservatives controlled the court and decided cases that limited union rights, expanded gun rights, and curbed the power of the Democratic governor. In 2023, after liberals gained the majority, they approved legislative district maps drawn by Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI) and allowed absentee ballot drop boxes to be used in the state again.
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT ELECTION TURNS INTO TRUMP-MUSK REFERENDUM
The court is due to settle a lawsuit on abortion and could also take up a case on unions soon. There is also a chance that a lawsuit involving Tesla, Musk’s electric car company, makes it before the state’s high court.
Schimel told the Washington Examiner he could remain impartial but did not give a firm answer on whether he would recuse himself from the case.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...