Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has been dealt a major blow in Wisconsin, with a bipartisan elections panel concluding that his $1 million payments to voters ahead of the 2025 state supreme court election likely contravened state law. The decision by the Wisconsin Elections Commission comes after two complaints against Mr. Musk were voted 5-1 to be forwarded to the Brown County district attorney.
The commission's finding, confirmed by spokesperson Emilee Miklas to the Associated Press, suggests that Mr. Musk's actions may have undermined the integrity of the electoral process in Wisconsin. The billionaire entrepreneur had asserted that his payments were critical to "the future of civilization", but critics argue that they constituted a blatant attempt to influence voters and secure a desired outcome.
Wisconsin law explicitly prohibits offering or providing anything of value to induce an elector's vote, with three voters reportedly receiving cheques from Mr. Musk prior to the election. Two of these individuals received their payments in person at a rally in Green Bay, while a third had been given a cheque but declined it.
This is not the first time that Mr. Musk has sought to influence Wisconsin elections, having spent over $20 million supporting conservative candidate Brad Schimel in last year's judicial race. The billionaire entrepreneur's America Pac also offered $100 to voters who signed petitions opposing "activist judges", while another Super Pac funded by Mr. Musk provided $1 million daily to voters in several battleground states during the 2024 presidential elections.
The Wisconsin findings highlight growing concerns about the role of significant private wealth in electoral processes, and raise questions about the regulation of political donations and voter engagement initiatives globally. As one expert notes, such actions can be perceived as undue influence or bribery, threatening to undermine trust in democratic institutions.