With only days remaining until Wisconsin’s pivotal Supreme Court election, Elon Musk has stepped directly into the political fray, bolstering conservatives’ efforts to secure victory for President Donald Trump’s candidate, Brad Schimel.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is currently split between liberal and conservative justices, meaning the election between Schimel and Judge Susan Crawford will determine the court’s ideological future. Republicans see maintaining a conservative majority as essential for preserving laws enacted under former Gov. Scott Walker, particularly Act 10, which ended mandatory public-union dues payments.

Musk’s America PAC has funneled tens of millions into Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race, making him a central figure in Democratic attack ads. Democrats accuse Musk of using Schimel to advance controversial policies that would affect Social Security and education spending. Responding aggressively, Musk promised to award two $1 million prizes personally to Wisconsinites who sign petitions against activist judges, sparking swift legal pushback from Attorney General Josh Kaul.

Trump, keenly aware of the election’s significance, held a telephone town hall supporting Schimel, calling Crawford a soft-on-crime “Radical Left Liberal” whose victory would effectively sideline Wisconsin from broader conservative efforts. He strongly urged voters to cast ballots early to prevent a liberal takeover.

On the other side, former President Obama publicly endorsed Crawford, emphasizing her willingness to defend voter rights. Democrats hope Obama’s support and sharp criticism of Musk’s influence will energize their voter base, turning the election into a referendum on Musk’s political involvement.

Schimel has sought to maintain some distance from Musk’s controversial tactics. Asked about Musk’s prize announcement, he stated only, “I’m not his lawyer,” carefully sidestepping direct involvement. Schimel previously said he considered signing the anti-activist judge petition but opted not to, despite agreeing with its stance.

If elected, Crawford has promised to overturn Act 10, a top goal for Democrats eager to regain union influence. Conservatives highlight this as evidence that public unions are little more than organized taxpayer exploitation schemes.

Election spending in Wisconsin now surpasses $80 million, making it the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history, with billionaire George Soros and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker also pouring funds into Crawford’s campaign.