Last year, Elon Musk bought himself a president, now he’s following through on his promise to turn his billions towards down-ballot races — beginning with Wisconsin.
After spending $290 million last election cycle to elect Donald Trump and Republicans, the Tesla billionaire and so-called Department of Government Efficiency chief has now poured millions into Wisconsin’s state Supreme Court race to help Republicans regain control and hold onto their gerrymandered congressional majority in Washington.
Last year, the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the state’s legislative maps, which were so heavily gerrymandered that it was virtually impossible for Democrats to ever gain control of the state legislature. The court ruled that many of the Republican-drawn non-contiguous district lines were unconstitutional, and the map was redrawn.
Since 2023, liberals have held a 4-3 majority in the court, which has stood as a check to attempts by the Republican legislature to attack reproductive freedoms and voting rights, as well as its efforts to disenfranchise voters through gerrymandering.
The court has now become the primary battle ground for conservatives looking to wrench back control of the state. The race between Trump-endorsed Republican Judge Brad Schimel, and liberal Judge Susan Crawford is already shaping up to be the most expensive court race in the country’s history, and Musk’s political groups are helping make it happen.
As of Monday the billionaire’s outside groups have dumped $14 million into the race. Musk’s America PAC has spent $8.4 million, making it the largest outside spender in the race. Building America’s Future, a dark money group that Musk has previously funded and is run by his consultants, has spent an additional $6 million on the race.
Musk separately donated $2 million last week to the Republican Party of Wisconsin, which then funneled $1.2 million to Schimel’s campaign.
Schimel and his conservative allies are significantly outspending Crawford and liberal groups, shelling out $41 million compared to $32 million from liberals so far, according to data compiled by the Brennan Center for Justice.
Quietly financing a campaign to the tune of millions is common practice among the American plutocracy, but Musk has also taken on a role as an unofficial campaign spokesperson for Schimel in recent days.
Musk recently hosted a conversation with Schimel on X, and explained why he cares so much about the judicial race. “It’s just worth making sure that people in Wisconsin understand this Supreme Court race has a big effect on the House of Representatives, and the House of Representatives is a razor-thin margin,” Musk said, adding that the race “has implications for Wisconsin, but for the whole country.”
The world’s richest man asserted this is “why you’re seeing so much Democrat money just going crazy here” — even though Republicans are substantially outspending Democrats thanks to spending by his own groups.
Over the weekend, Musk revived his 2024 swing-state strategy of essentially bribing voters into supporting his chosen candidate — or at least forking over their contact information. “PETITION IN OPPOSITION TO ACTIVIST JUDGES: Judges should interpret laws as written, not rewrite them to fit their personal or political agendas. Wisconsin registered voters receive $100 for signing the petition & $100 for each signer they refer,” America PAC wrote last week on X.
Several of the top comments on the post were from users complaining that they had not yet been paid for their participation in similar petitions and giveaways relating to November’s election.
