Ahead of this week's Wisconsin Supreme Court election, Elon Musk spoke at an America PAC town hall held at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Sunday.
Elon Musk has thrown himself into the middle of Wisconsin's state Supreme Court contest. Democrats are attempting to take advantage of it.
Musk has stepped up his efforts to support conservative contender Brad Schimel in the last stages of the election, investing millions of his personal riches in the state. At a town hall in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Sunday, the tech mogul traveled to the state to personally approach voters and gave them two checks totaling $1 million.
Musk, who began the event by tossing a cheesehead into the audience, declared, "Everyone has to mobilize everywhere like crazy for the next 48 hours." This, in my opinion, will be significant for civilization's future. It is that important.
Susan Crawford, a leftist candidate, and her Democratic supporters are utilizing Musk's involvement to portray the election as a referendum on him in the hopes of winning over people who are disenchanted with his large campaign expenditures or with DOGE's attempts to cut the federal government.
At a campaign event in Milwaukee on Saturday, Wisconsin Supreme Court nominee Susan Crawford, a judge on the Dane County Circuit Court, welcomes supporters.
The effort comes as the election on April 1st is expected to serve as the first electoral barometer of voter opinion in the first few months of President Donald Trump's second term, which has been heavily influenced by DOGE and Musk. After spending over a quarter-billion dollars to support Trump's 2024 campaign, Musk's influence on local elections will also be put to the test during this race.
The ideological balance of Wisconsin's high court, which now has a liberal majority, will be decided by the clash between Schimel, a former state attorney general and judge of the Waukesha County Circuit Court, and Crawford, a judge of the Dane County Circuit Court. Although the race is ostensibly nonpartisan, it has drawn interest from national political parties and will provide a window into how voters in the swing state are evaluating the first few months of Trump's second term.
Musk presents a one million dollar check to an attendee during Sunday's town hall in Green Bay.
Just minutes before Musk's event was set to start, however, the court rejected Kaul's plea.
Nicholas Jacobs and Ekaterina Diestler, two guests who had signed the petition, received two $1 million checks from Musk "in thanks" during the town hall on Sunday. Two days prior to the election, he also declared the establishment of a "block captain program," which would provide further financial incentives.
Given that the chances are heavily in favor of Crawford, Musk stated, "We have got to pull a rabbit out of the hat, next level." As if it were an arc of rabbits falling through the air and hitting a voting booth, "we really need to have a consistent stream of rabbits out of the hat."
"We need to create an anomaly in the matrix, that is basically what is required," he added.
Schimel, who was endorsed by Trump, has maintained that Musk's political effort operates apart from his campaign. However, in recent weeks, he collaborated with Musk on a conversation on X. Schimel criticized Democrats for large money when asked by CNN about those who believe Musk should have remained out of the race.
After an event in Elkhorn, Schimel stated, "I hope that they also think George Soros and JB Pritzker and others (should) stay away." "When (Crawford's) has money flowing directly into her campaign that she can manage, why are they so concerned about what Elon Musk does that I cannot control?"
Though not as large as Musk, liberal megadonors have entered the race. Together, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and financier George Soros have contributed $3.5 million to the Wisconsin Democratic Party, which Crawford's campaign may use. The race is already the most costly legal battle in US history, shattering previous spending records.
Crawford regularly mentions Musk in her campaign speeches, even playfully calling the billionaire “my opponent.” She and her Democratic allies have also ran advertisements attempting to link Musk to Schimel.
In a recent interview with CNN, Crawford stated, "I do not think this comes down to, you know, red or blue or Democrat or Republican." "I believe that this should worry every Wisconsin voter because someone might try to purchase a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court."
Redistricting and Tesla debates
Musk's involvement in the election coincides with the legal struggle that Tesla is engaged in against a state law that prohibits the electric vehicle manufacturer from setting up shop in Wisconsin. Crawford has argued that Musk contributed a significant amount of money to the race due to his commercial interests in the lawsuit, which may eventually reach the state Supreme Court.
Here, Elon Musk hopes to increase auto sales. At a stop in Janesville, Crawford stated, "So that is one way to accomplish it." "He wants to gain influence and access to the Wisconsin judiciary."
When asked if he would disqualify himself from the Tesla case if it went to trial, Schimel responded that he would consider the facts just like he would in any other case.
Last Monday, Schimel declared, "I am running to uphold the law as the legislature approves." "He may be backing the wrong candidate if he is supporting me because he believes he will get the outcome he desires."
Another hot topic throughout the campaign is the possible redivision of congressional maps. Even though both parties have narrowly won statewide elections, the court could consider redistricting in a state where Republicans control six of the eight US House seats. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has stated that "an enlightened Supreme Court" is the solution to the state's "gerrymandered congressional lines."
At his speech on Sunday, Musk discussed the matter as well, using dramatic language to convey the stakes. He explained that Tuesday's vote would determine which party controls the US House of Representatives. The party in charge of the House has a major influence over the nation, which in turn determines the direction of Western civilization. It seems like one of those things that might not appear like it will have a significant impact on humanity's overall fate, but I believe it will.
In an interview with CNN, Crawford stated that she would "evaluate what the facts are based on the evidence" if the court were to consider the legitimacy of congressional maps.
Crawford declared, "I will apply the law and make a conclusion that respects the law and does not consider politics."
Voters' opinions on Musk's role are divided.
On Monday afternoons at Janesville's RiversEdge Bowl, where a weekly bowling league of several dozen seniors occupies most of the lanes, politics is typically not the main topic of conversation. However, many bowling voters were focused on the contest and annoyed by the influx of outside funding in the final moments of the election.
Marvin Whitson, a Trump supporter who is not sure but is leaning toward Schimel in the Supreme Court race, said, "These individuals are intervening where they should not interfere." "We voters should do our jobs and let Musk focus on what he is supposed to be doing for the government."
According to independent Raymond Huntoon, who supports Crawford for the seat, one of the factors influencing Musk's vote is the amount of money he spends on the campaign.
Huntoon stated, "Someone wants something from up above for a judge to have that type of money coming into it." "He might be manipulating the strings of anything that he or the president wishes to accomplish, much like a puppeteer."
Schimel's supporter, Trump supporter George Buehl, disagreed.
Regarding the money, I do not believe either side is superior than the other. Life is like that," Buehl added. "I am going to make sure I am there because I am attempting to halt the left-wing agenda that is going on with the Democratic Party, because I do not support it."
