Musk defends million-dollar giveaways in Wisconsin

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin — After taking the stage wearing an iconic Wisconsin cheesehead hat, Elon Musk laid out why he supports the Republican in Tuesday’s high-stakes Wisconsin Supreme Court race — and why he awarded million-dollar checks to two Wisconsinites who signed an America PAC petition opposing “partisan” judges.

“It’s to call attention” to the important race, he told the crowd of about 2,000 gathered in a standing-room-only room at the KI Convention Center, just a few miles from Lambeau Field.

“It’s a super big deal,” Musk said of the race, acknowledging the contest might affect “the entire destiny of humanity” in part because of the ripple effect that could affect the 2026 congressional races.

Musk took the stage after the state Supreme Court refused to block his effort to give out the million-dollar checks. On Saturday, Wisconsin's Democratic Attorney General Joshua Kaul had asked the state’s high court to halt the giveaways after two lower state courts declined to do so.

The giveaways have drawn criticism for potentially violating election laws that bar giveaways in order to persuade voters.

The election is the most expensive judicial race in American history, with more than $80 million spent on both sides so far. Musk has put in about $18 million — drawing criticism for getting involved after his Tesla car company filed a lawsuit challenging a Wisconsin law that is preventing the company from opening dealerships.

Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel faces Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, who’s backed by Democrats in a contest that would determine the balance of the court and could affect how Wisconsin addresses abortion, congressional maps and labor issues in the coming years.

The election is also a confidence test on what President Donald Trump and Musk are doing so far in the new administration to revamp government.

It’s that point that prompted hundreds of protesters to line up across the street from the convention center as hundreds of guests waited in the rain to see Musk. The protesters yelled “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Elon Musk has got to go” and held signs that said “Wisconsin is not for sale.”

A few hecklers yelled out similar complaints while Musk was on stage, only to be drowned out by the crowd, which yelled, “USA, USA, USA.”

The dozen people that POLITICO talked to said they aren’t concerned about Musk’s spending in the race or the possible conflict that he would get involved in a contest that could affect the Tesla lawsuit against the state. They said Musk is only doing what Democratic donors have long done by putting big money into political contests.

After making remarks to the crowd, Musk took questions from attendees, reminiscent of a solo town hall he did last year in the Philadelphia suburbs ahead of the presidential election.

During the Q&A, Musk addressed AI, violence in elections, immigration, inflation and his concerns that there isn’t enough civil discourse.

Musk also talked about DOGE, criticizing government spending that he says is “in excess of government revenue.” It’s time to “end the Fed,” Musk said, referring to the Federal Reserve, drawing one of many applause lines from the crowd.

In discussing his DOGE work, Musk said advising Trump “is a very expensive job. … I’m not getting paid.” The crowd erupted in applause and a standing ovation after someone yelled, “Thank you!”

The event kicked off with remarks by Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, a former Wisconsin representative, both of whom praised Musk for his work on DOGE.

Schimel did not attend as the event, which was sponsored by Musk's America PAC, thus preventing the candidate taking part with a political action committee.