# Elon Musk's $1M voter offer ruled illegal in Wisconsin election Bribery allegations spark investigation into tech billionaire's campaign tactics. - **Source:** [Fortune | FORTUNE](https://brifing.si/source/769282ef-327a-4454-909a-3c7936216004) - **Published:** 2026-07-15 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/1782511c-1ddd-4f4d-8bdc-79799fbcd95c ## Illegal proposal Elon Musk's promise of $1 million to voters in Wisconsin's 2025 Supreme Court election was deemed unlawful by a bipartisan panel. The Wisconsin Elections Commission forwarded complaints to prosecutors, alleging violation of state election laws. Musk faces potential criminal charges for what's considered election bribery. ## Political battle Musk spent $20 million trying to flip control of Wisconsin's Supreme Court, backing Republican Brad Schimel who lost to Democrat Susan Crawford by 10 points. The race became the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history, exceeding $100 million in total spending. ## Complaint process Following confidential complaints from Milwaukee and Green Bay voters, the commission voted 5-1 to refer the case to Brown County DA David Lasee. Musk's team argues the offer falls under free speech protections. The DA's decision could set important precedent for campaign finance regulation. ## Payment details Musk personally handed $1 million checks to 3 Wisconsin voters at a Green Bay rally days before the election. His PAC America PAC had earlier offered $100 for anti-activist judge petitions. Democrat Crawford's victory maintained liberal control of the court, later expanding to 5-2 majority. ## Legal consequences Watchdog group Wisconsin Democracy Campaign filed suit alleging vote bribery and illegal lottery violations. A 2025 attempt by Wisconsin's AG to block payments was rejected by courts. Similar Musk offers in Pennsylvania were allowed to continue after being deemed not clearly illegal. ## Systemic impact This case highlights growing concerns about wealthy individuals influencing elections. The $100M+ judicial race and Musk's controversial tactics reignite debates about money in politics. The DA's decision within 40 days could reshape campaign finance enforcement in battleground states. ## Sources covering this story - https://fortune.com/2026/07/15/elon-musk-wisconsin-million-voter-bribery-panel/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._