In an unexpected twist involving one of the world’s most prominent tech figures, Elon Musk is under scrutiny for potentially violating Wisconsin’s election laws. The controversy stems from Musk’s promise to distribute $1 million checks to voters during the 2025 state Supreme Court election, a move now flagged by a bipartisan panel.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission has escalated the issue by referring two complaints to the district attorney of Brown County, who holds the authority to initiate criminal proceedings concerning potential election bribery violations. The district attorney’s office has a 40-day window to respond to the commission’s referral.
As the founder of SpaceX and CEO of Tesla, Musk’s involvement in Wisconsin’s electoral politics was significant. He and affiliated groups invested at least $20 million in support of Republican candidate Brad Schimel, who ultimately lost to Susan Crawford, the candidate backed by Democrats, by a ten-point margin.
Legal Consequences Over Election Incentives
The complaints, originating from voters in Milwaukee and Green Bay, assert that Musk’s actions in offering financial incentives to voters contravened state election laws. The Wisconsin Elections Commission, comprised of members from both major political parties, voted 5-1 in a closed session to forward these concerns to the district attorney.
Brown County’s District Attorney David Lasee, a Republican, has yet to comment on the matter. The commission’s motion highlighted Musk’s social media offer of $1 million as an inducement for voter participation in the election, suggesting probable cause for legal action.
Controversial Campaign Tactics
Leading up to the election, Musk’s political action committee (PAC), America PAC, incentivized voter engagement by offering $100 to sign a petition against “activist judges” or to refer others for signing. This approach was part of a broader strategy that saw Musk handing out $1 million checks directly to three voters, two of whom received them at a rally in Green Bay.
Despite these efforts, the state Supreme Court remained under liberal control, with the Democratic-backed candidate Chris Taylor securing another seat, extending their lead to a 5-2 majority.
The financial implications of Musk’s campaign involvement have already prompted a lawsuit from the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, aiming to prevent future cash incentives in elections. The lawsuit alleges that Musk’s actions constituted vote bribery and unauthorized lotteries, framing them as unlawful and a public nuisance.
Challenges to Musk’s Election Engagement
Efforts to legally restrain Musk’s financial distributions encountered obstacles. The state’s Democratic attorney general’s attempt to block two specific voter payments was dismissed by state courts, with Musk’s legal team defending the giveaways as protected free speech under constitutional rights.
Musk’s strategy mirrors a previous initiative before the 2024 presidential election, where his PAC offered substantial financial rewards to voters in Wisconsin and other pivotal states for petition support. A Pennsylvania judge ruled this effort was not an illegal lottery, allowing it to persist through Election Day.
