Billionaire Elon Musk distributed million-dollar checks to two Wisconsin voters on Sunday and pledged smaller payments to others who help elect a conservative candidate in a highly anticipated state Supreme Court election.
The Tesla CEO, who serves as a key adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, handed out oversized checks at a rally in Green Bay as he sought to drum up enthusiasm for a state Supreme Court election that is already the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history.
Musk also announced that he would also pay supporters $20 for every voter they recruit over the next two days.
He said he was spending the money to raise awareness of a race in which liberal Susan Crawford seems to be running ahead of conservative Brad Schimel.
“We actually are in serious danger of losing the election,” he said. “We’ve got to pull a rabbit out of a hat.”
The April 1 contest will determine the ideological tilt of the state’s top court as it considers abortion rights, labor rights and possibly election rules. Technically nonpartisan, the race is seen as an early referendum on Trump in a politically competitive state.
Musk warned the court might redraw legislative districts in a way that could cause Trump’s Republicans to lose seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“I think this will be important for the future of civilization. It’s that significant,” Musk said.
As of last week, groups affiliated with Musk had spent at least $17.5 million to support Schimel, according to New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice — more than one-fifth of the $81 million spent in total on the race.
ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM VERILY NEWS
