Wisconsin’s attorney general, Josh Kaul, who is a Democrat, has sought intervention from the state’s Supreme Court, which is controlled by liberals, to prevent Elon Musk from distributing $1 million checks to two voters. This move was made shortly before Elon Musk, an ally of US President Donald Trump, planned to carry out the giveaway at an evening rally.
“Wisconsin law prohibits offering anything of value to induce anyone to vote,” Kaul argued in his filing. “Yet, Elon Musk did just that.”
Prior to this, two lower courts had already dismissed the legal challenge put forth by Josh Kaul. He argues that Musk’s proposal breaches a state law. Brad Schimel, a former attorney general, emphasized his unwavering commitment to transparency when dealing with donations from individuals like Elon Musk, President Trump, and other supporters in Wisconsin.
Schimel has not said whether he would attend the rally.
Crawford’s campaign declined comment on Kaul’s legal filing.
The contest has shattered national spending records for a judicial election, with more than US$81 million ($128.53 million) in spending.
Musk’s political action committee had employed a similar strategy before the previous presidential election. The tactic involved offering to remit $1 million a day to voters in Wisconsin and six other key states if they endorsed a petition in support of the First and Second Amendments.
They threw it all behind Trump – and lost more than $300 billion
A judge in Pennsylvania said prosecutors failed to show the effort was an illegal lottery and allowed it to continue through Election Day.
Musk on Friday initially said in a post on his social media platform, X, that he planned to “personally hand over” US$2 million to a pair of voters who have already cast their ballots in the race.
Musk later posted a clarification, saying the money would go to people who will be “spokesmen” for an online petition against “activist” judges. After first saying the event would only be open to people who had voted in the Supreme Court race, he said attendance would be limited to those who have signed the petition.
Also on Friday, Musk’s political action committee identified the recipient of its first US$1 million giveaway – a Green Bay man who had donated to the Wisconsin GOP and the conservative candidate in the court race, and who has a history of posting support for Trump and his agenda.
The judicial election comes as Wisconsin’s highest court is expected to rule on abortion rights, congressional redistricting, union power, and voting rules that could affect the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election in the state.
