Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.
Wisconsin’s Attorney General has asked the state’s Supreme Court to block Elon Musk from distributing $1 million checks at a political town hall, arguing the high-profile giveaway amounts to illegal vote-buying.
Some shit you should know before you read: You might be wondering why this judicial election in Wisconsin is such a big deal — and the answer lies in its massive implications for redistricting and the future of political power in the state and beyond. At stake is control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which has the final say on legal challenges involving the state’s legislative maps. The current maps, drawn by Republicans over a decade ago, have been criticized by some as the most gerrymandered in the country, allowing the GOP to maintain dominant majorities even when Democrats win statewide. A shift in the court’s ideological balance could trigger a major redistricting overhaul, likely breaking the Republican hold on the legislature. That, in turn, could weaken the GOP’s grip on state policy and reduce its influence in future congressional elections — potentially reshaping the national political landscape.
What’s going on now: In an effort to prevent what he calls an illegal attempt to influence voters, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has asked the state’s Supreme Court to block Elon Musk from handing out two $1 million checks at a campaign-style town hall just days before the state’s high-stakes judicial election. Kaul argues that Musk’s giveaway violates Wisconsin law, which prohibits offering anything of value in exchange for voting. He initially filed suit on Friday, but lower courts rejected the challenge on procedural grounds. Now, Kaul is seeking emergency intervention from the state’s highest court — the very institution whose ideological direction will be determined by Tuesday’s election.
In his filing, Kaul said that the giveaways, initially framed by Musk as a gesture “in appreciation for voting,” clearly amount to voter inducement, even if Musk later tried to reframe the payments as compensation for petition “spokespeople” against so-called “activist judges.”
Musk, for his part, has thrown significant financial weight behind conservative candidate Brad Schimel, pouring more than $17 million into the race through his political action committee, America PAC. Notably, this isn’t the first time Musk has employed this tactic; in 2024, his PAC offered daily $1 million prizes to voters in swing states, including Pennsylvania. A court there allowed the effort to continue, ruling that prosecutors failed to prove it violated election laws.
This comes as Democrats are also dumping shitloads of money into the race. Progressive organizations and liberal megadonors — including George Soros and Governor JB Pritzker — have poured tens of millions into the race in support of liberal candidate Susan Crawford.
