DOGE chief and billionaire Elon Musk distributed $1 million (£770,000) cheques to voters in Wisconsin after the state’s Supreme Court refused to block the controversial giveaway.
The cash prize was announced earlier this week, ahead of Wisconsin’s closely contested Supreme Court election set for Tuesday. The race, which could shift control of the court to Republicans, became a political flashpoint and the most expensive judicial election in US history.
Wisconsin attorney general Josh Kaul, who is a Democrat, filed a lawsuit to stop Musk’s giveaway, arguing that the payments violated a state law prohibiting gifts in exchange for votes. However, Musk’s lawyers countered that Kaul attempted “restraining Mr Musk's political speech and curtailing his first amendment rights.”
They insisted further the payments were not aimed at influencing the election but were instead intended to spark a grassroots movement against what Musk called "activist judges."
Despite Kaul’s attempts, two lower courts sided with Musk, prompting the attorney general to make a last-ditch appeal to the state Supreme Court. The top court, however, unanimously declined to hear the case, effectively allowing the payments to continue, BBC reported.
Speaking at a rally on Sunday night, Musk defended his actions, saying, “We just want judges to be judges.” He then handed out two $1 million (£750,000) cheques to voters who had signed a petition opposing activist judges.
Musk and US President Donald Trump have both endorsed conservative candidate Brad Schimel , a judge from Waukesha county, in the election. Schimel is running against liberal-backed Dane county judge Susan Crawford . In case Schimel won, it could tip the balance of Wisconsin’s Supreme Court in favour of conservatives.
Musk has been a significant financial backer of Schimel’s campaign, donating $14 million. The judicial race has now broken records, with total spending reaching $81 million. Despite Musk’s support, Schimel appeared to distance himself from the billionaire in recent days. Speaking to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Friday, he said he had no involvement in Musk’s rally. “I have no idea what he's doing. I have no idea what this rally is,” Schimel told the newspaper.
Musk’s lawyers also argued that justices who have publicly endorsed Crawford should be disqualified from ruling on the case, citing concerns about bias.
The election is being widely viewed as a referendum on Trump’s second term, which began just months ago. The outcome could have major implications for key legal battles on abortion rights, congressional redistricting, and voting laws ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Musk himself has framed the election as an opportunity to prevent redistricting efforts that could favour Democrats in Congress. This is not the first time he has launched a high-profile cash giveaway tied to voter engagement. Last year, he offered a $1 million daily prize to voters in Wisconsin and six other swing states if they signed a petition supporting first and second amendment rights. A Pennsylvania judge later ruled the giveaway was legal, finding that prosecutors failed to prove it constituted an unlawful lottery.
The cash prize was announced earlier this week, ahead of Wisconsin’s closely contested Supreme Court election set for Tuesday. The race, which could shift control of the court to Republicans, became a political flashpoint and the most expensive judicial election in US history.
Wisconsin attorney general Josh Kaul, who is a Democrat, filed a lawsuit to stop Musk’s giveaway, arguing that the payments violated a state law prohibiting gifts in exchange for votes. However, Musk’s lawyers countered that Kaul attempted “restraining Mr Musk's political speech and curtailing his first amendment rights.”
They insisted further the payments were not aimed at influencing the election but were instead intended to spark a grassroots movement against what Musk called "activist judges."
Despite Kaul’s attempts, two lower courts sided with Musk, prompting the attorney general to make a last-ditch appeal to the state Supreme Court. The top court, however, unanimously declined to hear the case, effectively allowing the payments to continue, BBC reported.
Speaking at a rally on Sunday night, Musk defended his actions, saying, “We just want judges to be judges.” He then handed out two $1 million (£750,000) cheques to voters who had signed a petition opposing activist judges.
Musk and US President Donald Trump have both endorsed conservative candidate Brad Schimel , a judge from Waukesha county, in the election. Schimel is running against liberal-backed Dane county judge Susan Crawford . In case Schimel won, it could tip the balance of Wisconsin’s Supreme Court in favour of conservatives.
Musk has been a significant financial backer of Schimel’s campaign, donating $14 million. The judicial race has now broken records, with total spending reaching $81 million. Despite Musk’s support, Schimel appeared to distance himself from the billionaire in recent days. Speaking to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Friday, he said he had no involvement in Musk’s rally. “I have no idea what he's doing. I have no idea what this rally is,” Schimel told the newspaper.
Musk’s lawyers also argued that justices who have publicly endorsed Crawford should be disqualified from ruling on the case, citing concerns about bias.
The election is being widely viewed as a referendum on Trump’s second term, which began just months ago. The outcome could have major implications for key legal battles on abortion rights, congressional redistricting, and voting laws ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Musk himself has framed the election as an opportunity to prevent redistricting efforts that could favour Democrats in Congress. This is not the first time he has launched a high-profile cash giveaway tied to voter engagement. Last year, he offered a $1 million daily prize to voters in Wisconsin and six other swing states if they signed a petition supporting first and second amendment rights. A Pennsylvania judge later ruled the giveaway was legal, finding that prosecutors failed to prove it constituted an unlawful lottery.
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