What’s going on?

A high-stakes Wisconsin Supreme Court seat is up for grabs, and the election is just around the corner, concluding on April 1st. So far, this election stands as the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history and will determine whether the court remains liberal-leaning or flips to a conservative majority. 

But that’s not the only reason why this race is making national news: billionaire and newly established White House employee, Elon Musk, is pouring millions of dollars into the race in support of the Trump-endorsed, conservative candidate, Brad Schimel.

Elon Musk’s super PAC, America PAC, has spent millions so far, assembling a canvassing operation of over 500 employees promising voters that the conservative candidate will “keep President Trump’s agenda moving forward.” 

How’d we get here?

So why is Elon Musk involving himself in a local race? It’s no coincidence that his electric vehicle company is currently waging a legal fight that could hypothetically reach the state’s high court.

As of January, Musk’s electric car company, Tesla, is suing Wisconsin to challenge its law prohibiting vehicle manufacturers from owning dealerships, claiming it was wrongly denied exemption from the law. A decision that has gotten in the way of Elon Musk further lining his pockets and making himself richer. On social media, Musk only began to show interest in the Wisconsin court election days after this lawsuit was filed.

Musk can call it what he likes — we are calling it like we see it: a conflict of interest. 

Tại sao điều này lại quan trọng?

No one is above the law, and no one person should be able to buy any election and silence the voice of the people. Especially when the person with their thumb on the scale is influencing that election to enrich themselves. That’s not democracy, that’s oligarchy. 

Musk’s actions are setting a dangerous precedent that forces Americans to become pawns in the games of the ultra-wealthy, gambling people’s wellbeing and collective futures for a quick check. 

Now that Elon Musk is a government employee, his outsized influence on elections appears far more self-serving, and far more dangerous. Senior White House aides have never before funded super PACs that promote their personal political agendas or that of their bosses — but most senior aides haven’t been billionaires before. 

Depending on what happens next, this court-case about cars can quickly snowball into a billionaire using their vast wealth to override our democracy and dismantle our courts.  

We won’t let that happen. 

What’s next?

This race will conclude on April 1st. You can keep up with our work to protect the vote and Wisconsin’s democracy đây.