Musk hands out $1,000,000 checks to Wisconsin voters

Three special election races on Tuesday could provide an early indicator of President Donald Trump’s popularity just weeks into his second term, as well as insight into how Democratic messaging about his administration’s cuts to the federal government is playing with Americans in those states.

Voters in Florida’s 1st and 6th Congressional Districts will head to the polls to elect replacements in the House for Trump allies Matt Gaetz and Michael Waltz. Meanwhile, Wisconsin voters will elect a new member of the state Supreme Court, where liberals are defending a one-seat majority.

All three races present an opportunity to measure voters’ support for Trump and billionaire Elon Musk’s efforts to overhaul Washington. The president and his billionaire adviser have backed the conservative candidates in all three races — Musk and groups affiliated with him have pumped about $20 million into the Wisconsin race and, as reported by NBC News, a PAC connected to Musk has spent tens of thousands in both Florida races.

Caption from article by Mariana Alfaro.

[DaveJorgenson]

Update: The liberal judge won in Wisconsin. The two Republican candidates on in Florida (as expected).

[jeez]

Remember when Ben and Jerry's quit giving out ice cream to people who voted because they got a notice that doing this could be "buying voters"?

[saac]

You forgot to mention that Elon has a case that will be decided by the new court

[horkah]

So bribery? We’re doing bribery now.

Ahhh, America. 🇺🇸

[uneotarieseul]

yeah still incredible how clear bribes are considered legal

[DoktorDry]

It's illegal to hand out water to voters waiting in line.
It's not illegal to give literal million dollar checks to voters who signed a document.

[darklordofsword]

Yeah, hardly random; one of the two people who "won" the million dollars? Founder of the Wisconsin Young Republicans and a political activist who has worked directly with Wisconsin's state GOP.

[gagaplex]

The last few years have shown one thing for certain: If you're rich enough, laws and rules don't apply to you.

[flyingartgirls]

They showed the guy who received the check for a million$ was not a random stranger.
Surprise surprise

[Swayz]

AND IT DIDNT WORK IN WISCONSIN LETS GO!

[JonahNguyen-oixs]

You almost got me thinking there was legal bribery. Wait it’s not an April Fools joke?

[welldamn]

It sucks. People are being vocal about this, yet nobody seems to give a damn. Hard to not feel helpless.

[Im_AshParker]

He paid 20 million and Lost Wisconsin!!!💙💙💙💙💙

[antonioricaud]

Even after all that bribery, Crawford still won in the end.

[penguinslippers]

I heard this 2 minutes after it happened, and let me tell you, I AM PISSED! As a Wisconsinite I have had to deal with so much Musk involvement in this election, and I voted for those not endorsed by Musk/Trump. The absolute bribery makes my blood boil, and has been causing me stress, the whole situation is insane.

[TheRico]

Also reminder that the "winner" of that million dollar check was a republican who has ties to tesla and Elon.

[elliottmeyer]

Wisconsinite here! Did my duty and voted Crawford!

[TwiggyHetfield]

What's funny about this is that i live in Florida... have not heard a damn thing about elections down here.
Yet I've heard all about the Wisconsin elections because of the bribes...

[linquisitore]

I am from Italy, never been in the USA and not only I already knew of this, but I am also following with great interest

[crabington]

Very happy to say that I (a Wisconsinite) voted today and the candidate that wasn’t supported by Elon and does support women’s rights won. (While checking results, The Guardian reported that it was the most expensive elective judicial race in American history, citing “Wisconsin Supreme Court Race Breaks Spending Record, Fueled by Out-of-State Money” from the Brennan Center For Justice. Very proud of my people for standing up like this)