BREAKING NEWS: Elon Musk hands out $1 million checks to Wisconsin residents for signing petition against activist judges.
Billionaire Elon Musk handed out two $1 million checks to Wisconsin residents who signed a petition opposing «activist judges» just hours after the Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected an attempt by the state’s Democratic Attorney General, Josh Kaul, to block these actions.
The event took place during a gathering organized by America PAC, Musk’s political action committee, in Green Bay, just two days before a crucial state Supreme Court election that will determine the court’s balance of power.
#BREAKING: Elon Musk JUST handed out two, $1M checks to Wisconsinites for signing the petition against activist judges.
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 31, 2025
This just hours after the state Supreme Court REJECTED the Democrat attorney general's attempt to stop Musk from doing so.
"The reason for the checks: it's… pic.twitter.com/IbRE3KEkBl
Musk stated:
«The reason for the checks: it’s really just to get attention. Inevitably, when I do these things, the legacy media loses their minds and runs it on every news channel. And I think: I couldn’t pay them—it would cost 10 times more to get that kind of coverage!»
The recipients, identified as petition spokespersons, are part of Musk’s broader campaign to influence the April 1 election, in which he has invested over $20 million supporting conservative candidate Brad Schimel against liberal candidate Susan Crawford.
Attorney General Kaul had filed a lawsuit on Friday in Dane County Circuit Court, arguing that Musk’s payments violated state law prohibiting offering «something of value» to induce voting.
However, after initial rejections from lower courts, the state Supreme Court, with a 4-3 liberal majority, unanimously declined to take the case on Sunday, without providing a detailed explanation.
This allowed Musk to proceed with his strategic plan, which included handing out the checks at an event for petition signers.
Tuesday’s election will determine whether the court retains its liberal majority or shifts to conservative control—a result with national implications for issues such as abortion, redistricting, and election laws.
Musk, a key advisor to President Donald Trump and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has intensified his political involvement, using similar tactics to those employed during the 2024 presidential campaign, when he offered payments for signing petitions in key states.
Elon Musk’s strategy of handing out $1 million checks to petition signers in Wisconsin is proving to be a shrewd and effective move to amplify his political message.
By leveraging his wealth and ability to generate headlines, Musk not only secures massive media coverage—which he himself admits would be unattainable even with a much larger advertising investment—but also mobilizes voters and supporters in a key state ahead of a critical election.
This tactic, backed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision validating its legality, reflects a keen understanding of how to combine economic incentives with political activism, revitalizing interest in a judicial race that could define the state’s future.
With over $81 million spent, this judicial race has become the most expensive in U.S. history, highlighting the growing influence of figures like Musk in state politics. As Election Day approaches, national attention remains fixed on Wisconsin.
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