- Elon Musk said he plans to hand out two $1 million checks to voters in Wisconsin. In a now deleted post to X, he said he planned to visit Wisconsin, ahead of the state’s high-stakes Supreme Court race.
- Musk’s political action committee has already spent over $20 million to support conservative candidate Brad Schimel, who aims to regain control of the state’s Supreme Court after a 2023 victory by a more liberal judge.
- The billionaire’s recent actions, including offering money to voters and signing petitions, have drawn criticism, with opponents accusing him of attempting to buy votes and engaging in corrupt practices.
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Elon Musk said he plans to hand out a pair of $1 million checks to voters during a planned visit to Wisconsin, the weekend of March 28, ahead of the state’s high-stakes Supreme Court race.
In a now-deleted post to X on Thursday, March 27, Musk mentioned the giveaway.
“On Sunday night, I will give a talk in Wisconsin,” Musk stated. “Entrance is limited to those who have voted in the Supreme Court election. I will also personally hand over two checks for a million dollars each in appreciation for you taking the time to vote. This is super important.”
As of Friday, March 28, the post was no longer on Musk’s X account, and it’s unclear if his plans to go to Wisconsin or hand out the money have changed.
The trip would increase his involvement in the judicial contest after he and his political action committee spent more than $20 million on it. The group is trying to elect conservative candidate Judge Brad Schimel who is taking on liberal candidate Judge Susan Crawford.
The Tuesday, April 1 election could swing control of the state’s highest court back to conservatives after liberals won a significant victory in 2023.
Did Musk already give $1 million to a Wisconsin voter?
The Thursday announcement on X, came after Musk announced Wednesday, March 26, that he gave another $1 million prize to a Green Bay man, Scott Ainsworth, who signed his petition opposing what he described as “activist judges.”
Congratulations, Scott Ainsworth of Green Bay! https://t.co/usbPk0Js0K
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 28, 2025
“Everyone should do what I did,” Ainsworth said in a video posted to the America PAC X account. “Sign the petition, refer your friends, get out and vote early for Brad Schimmel.”
Scott Ainsworth from Green Bay, WI became a $1 Million spokesperson for signing our Petition In Opposition To Activist Judges.
— America (@america) March 28, 2025
“Everyone should do what I did; Sign the petition, refer your friends, get out and vote early for Brad Schimel”
SIGN: https://t.co/TMeyWUhbrH pic.twitter.com/2wjDGheHXJ
The petition reads: “Judges should interpret laws as written, not rewrite them to fit their personal or political agendas.”
During the week of March 16, Musk’s committee offered Wisconsin voters $100 to anyone who signed the petition.
What is Schimel’s opponent saying?
Crawford’s team accused Musk of trying to buy votes, calling it “corrupt, extreme and disgraceful.”
The legality of offering voters money came up during the November 2024 election when Musk’s committee awarded $1 million each day to one swing state voter who had signed a pro-Trump petition.
The Philadelphia district attorney sued, but the day before election day, a Pennsylvania judge declined to stop the sweepstakes.
This story has been updated with information regarding Musk’s deletion of his original X post from Thursday, March 27.
