A Wisconsin appeals court on Saturday rejected a request to stop Elon Musk’s plan to give $1 million each to two voters who sign a petition opposing what he calls “activist” judges, who have ruled against President Trump’s efforts to reduce government spending.
Musk intends to distribute the funds at a Sunday night rally in Green Bay, Wis., in support of state Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel—a conservative judge from Waukesha County facing liberal incumbent Dane County Judge Susan Crawford in Tuesday’s key election, which is set to determine the court’s partisan balance. Wisconsin Democrat Attorney General Josh Kaul filed suit on Friday in an effort to block the payments, arguing they were illegal. However, a district court judge declined to issue an injunction that day, and the appeals court confirmed the decision on Saturday.
Musk and President Donald Trump have endorsed Schimel in the Supreme Court race, calling Crawford an “activist” judge. “Vote for Superjudge Brad Schimel in Wisconsin on Tuesday,” Musk wrote on X Sunday, before the Green Bay rally. “The Republican House majority is razor thin and the Democrats want to redrew Wisconsin districts to flip- the House and stop the government reforms.”
Musk’s post references his and Trump’s efforts to identify and cut what they call wasteful and fraudulent federal government spending, and the fact that Republicans hold a slim, 218-213, majority in the U.S. House with four seats vacant. Many Democrat members of Congress have opposed the cuts. After Tuesday’s election, the Wisconsin Supreme Court could decide a number of key issues, including challenges to the state’s congressional maps.
The winner between Shimel and Crawford will replace retiring liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley. Democrats currently hold a 5-4 advantage on Wisconsin’s highest court. The Schimel v. Crawford election is the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history, with campaign spending approaching $100 million, according to reports.
