With large donation checks, a billionaire friend, and a Packers cheesehead hat, Elon Musk arrived in Wisconsin to make his presence known. A pastor offered a prayer for him, and one excited supporter pleaded with him for a follow-on X.
The event, held on Sunday night and attended by about 2,000 people, was officially meant to support the conservative candidate in a vital judicial race in Wisconsin. But Musk easily became the main attraction at the rally, held just a day and a half before Election Day.
Although neither candidate in the election was Musk himself, he took center stage as the spotlight followed him throughout the evening. The race featured Brad Schimel, the conservative candidate, going up against liberal Susan Crawford.
Usually, campaign closings are well-orchestrated with clear goals. Even though Judge Schimel did not attend, Musk showed up willingly and seemed ready to take responsibility for whatever outcome followed. His decision to come forward publicly was not pushed by anyone else.
President Trump, despite requests from Wisconsin Republicans, chose not to appear in support of the candidate. He likely calculated that the risk of being tied to a loss was too high, and left the spotlight to Musk.
Former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker had been among those who hoped Trump would attend. Walker shared his thoughts in an interview, suggesting that Musk, unlike career political consultants, was not concerned about being linked to defeat.
“He’s not bothered,” Walker explained. “It’s different from those political strategists who worry about being seen as losers.” Musk himself has described the race as being too important to stay away from.
A few weeks earlier, he gave only limited support to Judge Schimel. But now, his public statements have taken on a serious tone. Musk and groups tied to him have invested more than $20 million into this race, with Musk describing Tuesday’s vote as a battle that could influence national and global direction.
According to him, this judicial election affects who controls the U.S. House of Representatives because of the court’s influence on redistricting.
Musk explained that the party with control over Congress will shape national policies and steer the direction of Western society. He added that while it may not seem obvious, the results of this vote could determine the future of humanity.
Pushing for Turnout and Drawing Attention in Green Bay
At a town hall event in Green Bay that looked more like a campaign festival, Musk worked to encourage voting. With Green Bay preparing to host the NFL draft next month, the area was already full of football-themed displays. Musk used the stage to energize Republican voters.
Republican leaders believe their path to winning depends on turning out about 200,000 Trump voters who may skip voting in a non-presidential election. Musk, despite being disliked by many liberals, is still well-liked by conservatives.
Among those who showed up, many wore merchandise connected to Musk and said they had followed his work for years. Michael Labarbera, a 25-year-old who works with solar panels, wore a DOGE hat and said he was there specifically to see Musk.
John Rosner, a retiree wearing a Boring Company hat, explained that his only reason for coming was to see Musk in person. “It’s the closest I’ll ever get,” he said.
Robert Cool, an 81-year-old who had recently taken a fall and sat alone at the rally, said it was the first political event he had ever attended. He described past Trump events as disorganized but felt Musk’s rally was different.
“This one felt necessary,” said Mr. Cool, who was upset by recent attacks on Tesla. “I’ve never supported anyone in politics like I support Musk.”
Musk, known for his confidence, seemed to enjoy being around supporters who admire him. For those in attendance, he appeared more like a hero than the last time he held a public event, which was in Pennsylvania about five months ago.
Money, Messaging, and Musk’s Unusual Campaign Role
While Republican organizations stayed quiet in this race, Musk’s super PAC ran an aggressive outreach effort. A nonprofit that previously had Musk’s backing spent millions on television ads that it says helped Schimel close the gap.
Supporters such as Mr. Walker argue that without Musk’s involvement, this race would not even be close. Musk’s involvement also stirred media interest. One example was a million-dollar sweepstakes meant to reward petition signers.
For a brief time, the plan was to make this offer available only to Wisconsin residents who had already voted. That decision stirred up debate before the state’s Supreme Court allowed the giveaway to continue just before the rally.
And just like he did during last year’s general election event in Pennsylvania, Musk came to Sunday’s rally with large ceremonial checks ready to hand out to winners. He also brought out close friend Antonio Gracias to give a speech about what he claimed was fraud in Social Security.
Musk wore the iconic cheesehead hat, signed it, and tossed it into the crowd before the giveaway. Even with all the attention he brings, Musk admitted that Judge Schimel might not win.
As he wrapped up his remarks and moved into a long question-and-answer session, he made light of the situation using the cheesehead theme once again.
“We’ve got to do something special here,” he said, referring to Schimel’s weak position in betting markets. “We don’t just need one rabbit out of the hat. We need a line of rabbits flying through the air and landing inside voting booths.”
