Debbie Rowe / Wikimedia Commons
CV NEWS FEED // Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), announced Friday that he will address Wisconsin Supreme Court voters Sunday, offering $2 million to boost turnout for the critical election.
“On Sunday night, I will give a talk in Wisconsin… Entrance is limited to those who have signed the petition in opposition to activist judges,” Musk posted on X, referring to a petition that rejects “activist judges who impose their own views.”
“I will also hand over checks for a million dollars to 2 people to be spokesmen for the petition,” he added.
Musk’s announcement comes days before the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, set for Tuesday, April 1, which could have significant implications for national politics.
The election will determine whether the Wisconsin court maintains its 4-3 liberal majority or shifts toward a conservative bench – potentially shaping future rulings on abortion, redistricting, voting regulations, and religious freedom.
Conservative Brad Schimel, the pro-life former Wisconsin attorney general, faces off against liberal Susan Crawford, whose judicial record has recently drawn intense criticism.
CatholicVote’s Vice President Joshua Mercer urged Catholics to rally behind Schimel, emphasizing the election’s high stakes. “This election will decide whether we maintain the values that have made Wisconsin great – or if we lose ground for generations to come,” wrote Mercer.
Both Musk and President Donald Trump have endorsed Schimel, particularly underscoring Schimel’s commitment to restoring judicial objectivity.
“I’ve never been involved in anything where the stakes were bigger than this,” Schimel has said. “Justice is no longer blind on the Wisconsin Supreme Court; that’s what’s at stake. We have to restore objectivity.”
Leading up to the election, Schmiel’s campaign has launched ads targeting Crawford’s promotion of “transgender rights” and reaffirming his own endorsement of Trump.
Crawford, a circuit court judge, is backed by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, defund-police organizations, and over 130 liberal judges.
She has faced growing criticism for sentencing a convicted child rapist to just four years in prison and for her previous work defending Planned Parenthood while serving as a prosecutor.
As CatholicVote previously reported, Crawford sentenced Curtis O’Brien, who raped a five-year-old girl, to less than half of the 10-year term prosecutors had requested. Despite public outrage, Crawford stood by her decision during a March debate, stating she had no regrets.
America PAC, founded by Musk, incentivized Wisconsin voters by initially offering $100 to sign the petition that calls for a return to judicial interpretation, not legislation.
On Thursday evening, one petitioner, Scott Ainsworth of Green Bay, was awarded $1 million for his participation.
“I’m looking at it as an opportunity to bless local schools and international ministries. I’m looking at it as an opportunity to bless my family,” Ainsworth said in a PAC campaign video encouraging Wisconsin voters to support Schimel. “If everyone in the MAGA movement shows up [and] votes for Brad Schimel, he will win.”
