Wisconsin AG Scrambles to Block Elon Musk's $2 Million Court Race Giveaway

In a dramatic twist ahead of a key off-year election, Wisconsin Attorney General Joshua Kaul has filed a last-ditch appeal to the state Supreme Court to block Elon Musk from handing out $1 million checks at a campaign rally. The stakes? A fiercely contested Wisconsin Supreme Court race that could have ripple effects nationwide.

The appeal follows an appellate court’s rejection of Kaul’s request for an emergency injunction. The AG is scrambling to prevent Musk, the billionaire tech mogul and self-proclaimed DOGE leader, from dishing out the hefty checks at a Sunday rally supporting conservative candidate Brad Schimel. Schimel, a former state attorney general and current judge, is locked in a high-stakes battle against liberal candidate Susan Crawford in what is officially a nonpartisan race.

Kaul has argued that Musk’s planned giveaway violates Wisconsin election laws, specifically a statute prohibiting the offering of "anything of value" in exchange for voting or refraining from voting. He’s also pushing for the court to act swiftly, saying the urgency is "rational" given the timing of the event. Musk, meanwhile, has been unapologetically vocal about his support for Schimel, pouring millions into the campaign and stirring controversy with his unorthodox tactics.

In Pennsylvania during the 2024 presidential election, Musk faced similar backlash for dangling financial incentives to voters. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro even suggested the behavior merited police scrutiny. Now, in Wisconsin, Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wikler has accused Musk of deleting a prior online post to "cover up evidence of his crime." Musk, for his part, has clarified that his giveaway is tied to signing an anti-activist judge petition, with two individuals receiving the checks to act as spokespeople.

The stakes in Wisconsin couldn’t be higher. A Crawford victory could tilt the court’s decisions on critical issues like redistricting, unions, and transgender rights. Republican supporters of Schimel have warned that Democratic gains on the court could lead to redistricting efforts aimed at weakening the GOP's hold on key congressional districts.

As both sides brace for Tuesday’s election, the legal drama surrounding Musk’s cash giveaway only adds fuel to an already fiery contest. Whether the Wisconsin Supreme Court will intervene in time to stop the tech billionaire’s controversial move remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: this isn’t your average campaign playbook.