Elon Musk wants to start a third party but it will take more than just money
Can billionaire Elon Musk build a third party that lasts? We look at the odds, the obstacles, and the history stacked against him.
Elon Musk’s super PAC spent $47.4 million in the first half of 2024, primarily supporting Brad Schimel’s unsuccessful Wisconsin Supreme Court bid.Musk personally contributed over $18 million to the PAC, supplementing a $27 million in-kind payment from his company, United States of America Inc.The Wisconsin Supreme Court race, ultimately won by liberal Judge Susan Crawford, became the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history.
The super PAC run by billionaire Elon Musk spent $47.4 million in the first half of the year, when the group was actively engaged in helping former Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel run unsuccessfully for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
The new filing by America PAC includes, for the first time, confirmation of $1 million payments that Musk gave to each of three individuals at a Green Bay rally “in appreciation for you taking the time to vote.”
It also reports that America PAC spent $27 million on in-kind payments for “petition incentives” on June 30. The payment came from the United States of America Inc., a new business created by Musk last year.
It is not clear what those payments were for, but the super PAC offered Wisconsin voters $100 to register their opposition to “judicial activists” via a website. Musk’s group also made numerous payments to consultants, media groups and canvassers in the first six months of the year.
Overall, the report indicates Musk gave a little more than $18 million to America PAC in the first half of the year. That comes on top of the $27 million in-kind payment by the United States of America Inc.
A spokesman for America PAC could not be immediately reached for comment.Â
On April 1, liberal Dane County Judge Susan Crawford defeated Schimel, a conservative, in an election that determined the ideological control of the Supreme Court. Liberals now hold a 4-3 edge with Crawford’s investiture on Aug. 1.
The race set a record for the most spent on a judicial race in the United States. Even before America PAC’s latest report, all sides had reported paying out more than $100 million on the hotly contested race, with independent groups far outspending the two candidates.
A spokesman for Crawford’s campaign declined to comment.
Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com.
Contact Daniel Bice at (414) 313-6684 or dbice@jrn.com. Follow him on X at @DanielBice or on Facebook at fb.me/daniel.bice.
(This story was updated to add a photo or video.)