Elon Musk's Wisconsin Talk Sparks Buzz Ahead of High-Stakes Supreme Court Election
Sarah Johnson
March 28, 2025
Brief
Elon Musk will speak in Wisconsin before the Supreme Court election, offering $1 million checks to voters. His actions spark controversy over political influence and voting incentives.
Elon Musk, the headline-grabbing billionaire and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), announced on Thursday night that he will speak this Sunday in Wisconsin, just days before the state's pivotal Supreme Court election. Musk described the upcoming talk as "super important" and added a unique twist—admission is limited to voters who have participated in the election.
In a message posted on his social media platform, X, Musk revealed his plan to personally hand over two $1 million checks to attendees as a token of appreciation for voting. While that’s certainly one way to get people to the polls, it’s also raising eyebrows across the political spectrum.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court election, set for Tuesday, has major implications. The seat in question, currently held by a liberal justice who is retiring, could shift the court’s balance from 4-3 liberal control to a conservative majority. That makes this race a proxy battle for national political tensions, with heavy hitters like Barack Obama and Donald Trump backing opposing candidates.
On one side, Republican candidate Brad Schimel has rallied Trump supporters, while Democratic-backed contender Susan Crawford has accused Musk of attempting to sway the court with his extravagant payouts. Crawford’s campaign, in particular, has highlighted Tesla’s pending lawsuit in Wisconsin, suggesting Musk’s financial involvement might be less altruistic than it appears.
Adding to the controversy, Musk’s America PAC has been handing out cash incentives to voters, including a recent $1 million award to a Green Bay resident who signed a petition opposing "activist judges." The PAC previously offered $100 to individuals who signed its petition but had not disclosed plans for any million-dollar prizes until Musk’s announcement. The process for selecting the award recipient remains unclear, leaving room for speculation and criticism.
This isn’t Musk’s first rodeo with headline-grabbing political tactics. Similar lottery-style payments were made in battleground states before last November’s elections, blurring the lines between voter engagement and outright influence. With Wisconsin now in the spotlight, Musk’s unconventional approach is sure to add fuel to the fiery debates surrounding this election.
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Editor's Comments
Elon Musk sure knows how to turn politics into a spectacle, doesn’t he? A $1 million prize for signing a petition and another two checks just for voting—it’s like a game show, but with democracy at stake. While his methods are undeniably effective at grabbing attention, the ethical questions around these payouts are glaring. Is this genuine civic engagement or just buying influence with eye-popping cash? Either way, Musk has everyone talking, and maybe that's his real goal.
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