Elon Musk, the global tycoon and instrumental catalyst behind the Department of Government Efficiency under President Donald Trump, has invested heavily in the forthcoming 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election. More specifically, his monetary support centers on the conservative nominee Brad Schimel, an incumbent judge from Waukesha County, in his competition against liberal judge Susan Crawford from Dane County.
The entrepreneurial titan unveiled his intention to personally visit the state prior to the critical election, specifically two days before the polling day. The plan, revealed via a social media post, highlighted that Musk is set to undertake a journey to Wisconsin on the Sunday prior to the election.
Musk’s itinerary also includes a political rally in Green Bay. The world’s wealthiest individual initially unveiled a proposal to distribute a pair of $1 million donations to individuals who had already cast their votes. Yet, this declaration was quickly erased from his social media profile in the ensuing hours on Friday morning.
Shortly after, Musk posted a new message addressing the confusion by stating that the substantial donations were intended for those who’d voice public support for his ‘Petition In Opposition To Activist Judges.’ He also rectified the earlier statement that the gathering was exclusive to those who had already participated in the Supreme Court electoral process.
The financial initiative has not gone unchallenged. Josh Kaul, the state’s Attorney General and Democrat contender, has openly expressed opposition by pursuing legal avenues against Musk over the proposed payments. The controversy only adds to the intrigue surrounding Musk’s escalating involvement and generous financial backing in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court contest.
Following the chaos, Musk took to his social media once again late on Friday to confirm that the Green Bay event will proceed as scheduled. The details of the venue remain undisclosed, but the event is set to commence at 6:30 p.m.
In his subsequent post, Musk declared that his presence in Wisconsin includes delivering a talk, and the entry will be restricted to those who have endorsed his petition against ‘activist judges.’ This follows his recent act of disbursing $1 million to a Green Bay local via his Super PAC, in return for backing in the Supreme Court race.
Scott Ainsworth, the recipient of the donation from Musk’s Super PAC, had agreed to back the ‘Petition In Opposition To Activist Judges.’ In another controversial move, America PAC committed to paying voters $100 each to support the petition, an act that could potentially violate state laws according to a local election attorney, as it’s illegal for voters to receive financial gains for their votes under state law.
A total of $11.5 million has been committed by Musk through America PAC to bolster Schimel’s campaign and disparage Crawford’s candidacy. Musk’s immense financial aid marks him as the leading donor in this electoral race, having pledged nearly $20 million in total to support Schimel’s run.
Elon Musk isn’t a stranger to political involvement, having actively campaigned for Trump during the 2024 presidential race. His political action committee proved instrumental during that period, offering considerable funding in various state elections. Following legal challenges, Trump secured victory and subsequently appointed Musk as the chief of the Department of Government Efficiency, an agency renowned for its extensive workforce reductions across various federal departments.
With an impressive net worth exceeding $344.9 billion, Musk co-founded innovative businesses like Tesla and SpaceX, while also contributing significantly to the blossoming artificial intelligence sector with his startup xAI. His financial prowess continues to shape the contemporary entrepreneurial landscape.
Musk’s support for Brad Schimel is a sentiment shared by other notable figures, one of whom includes President Donald Trump. By expressing his vigorous support for Schimel recently, Trump has made clear his endorsement of the conservative candidate and implored Wisconsin’s voters to reject Crawford, whom he referred to as a ‘Communist and Marxist’ selection.
The 2025 Supreme Court election has already seen almost half a million Wisconsin residents vote. With a meager 4-3 lead currently held by liberal justices, the outcome of the Schimel-Crawford faceoff is set to greatly influence the ideological direction of the state. Furthermore, the ballot also includes decisions on state education leadership and the permanence of the voter ID law in the state constitution, which is already a requirement in Wisconsin.