A super PAC that Department of Government Efficiency enforcer Elon Musk founded to funnel millions of dollars to Republican candidates and causes is now offering $100 to registered voters in Wisconsin willing to sign a petition “in opposition of activist judges.”
The cash gift, similar to a controversial one he rolled out during the 2024 presidential election in support of President Donald Trump, will also pay voters who refer their friends and family to sign the petition.
Musk’s new offer in Wisconsin will increase awareness and voter registration among conservative voters as well as help his political action committee, America PAC, collect data on people who are likely to turn out to vote for conservative candidate Judge Brad Schimel.
The petition they must sign reads: “Judges should interpret laws as written, not rewrite them to fit their personal or political agendas. By signing below, I’m rejecting the actions of activist judges who impose their own views and demanding a judiciary that respects its role — interpreting, not legislating.”
Musk’s PAC used a similar financial incentive scheme during last year’s presidential election, offering voters in seven battleground states, including Wisconsin, a chance at a $1 million lottery prize if they signed a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments.
Wisconsin’s Supreme Court election, which will take place on April 1, pits Musk-backed Schimel against liberal Judge Susan Crawford.
Musk and Democratic mega-donors George Soros and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker have thrown millions into the race, making it the most expensive state judge race in U.S. history. More than $59 million has been spent, and just over a week remains. Musk’s involvement, which includes the $13 million he and his PACs have already spent in the state, raises eyebrows because there is a case involving Tesla, his electric vehicle company, that the justices could eventually decide.
“Elon Musk is trying to buy a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court to secure a favorable ruling in his company’s lawsuit against the state,” Crawford campaign spokesman Derrick Honeyman told the Washington Examiner in a statement. “Now Musk has resorted to buying votes. Brad Schimel has spent his career looking out for wealthy special interests and campaign donors, and Musk wants a justice who will rule in his favor to help his own bottom line. Wisconsinites can see right through this extreme corruption and they don’t want a slimy billionaire like Elon Musk or a corrupt politician like Brad Schimel controlling the Wisconsin Supreme Court.”
Tesla sued Wisconsin in January, challenging a state law that forbids manufacturers from owning dealerships.
Wisconsin denied Tesla’s request for dealer licenses late last year, claiming the company didn’t meet the requirements for exemptions to state law. Tesla wanted to turn its massive galleries in Madison and Milwaukee into dealerships and open others in Glendale and the Fox Cities. In the lawsuit, the company argued that it should be allowed to operate its own dealerships if there aren’t any independent ones around. The company also argued that Wisconsin law does not ban “a non-franchising manufacturer like Tesla” from operating a dealership.
The company sold between 3,000 and 4,000 electric vehicles in Wisconsin last year and believes sales would grow if it opened dealerships there. A hearing is scheduled for Monday on whether the case can be transferred from Outagamie County to Dane or Milwaukee County.
If Tesla disagrees with the circuit court’s decision, it could appeal to a higher court and eventually reach the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Eight days after being denied by the lower court, Musk told his 219 million followers on X: “Very important to vote Republican for the Wisconsin Supreme Court to prevent voting fraud.”
This has made things publicly uncomfortable for Schimel, who has benefited from Musk’s millions and social media reach.
CONSERVATIVE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT CANDIDATE BRINGS UP PAST ELECTION FRAUD CLAIMS
Crawford’s campaign has bent over backward trying to tie Musk to Schimel.
This week, a new campaign ad claims Musk is trying to buy Schimel a seat on the state’s high court.