Minnesota bill targets cash incentives to sign election petitions used by Elon Musk-backed group
A Minnesota bill aims to target the types of cash incentives a group funded by Elon Musk is offering voters in Wisconsin ahead of a consequential state Supreme Court election next week.
A vacant seat in the state's Supreme Court has attracted the attention of billionaire Elon Musk.
America PAC, Musk's super PAC, is offering $100 to anyone in the battleground state who signs a petition against "activist judges" and an additional $100 for each referral. Though the race is officially nonpartisan, at stake during the April 1 election is the future of Wisconsin's highest court and whether conservative or liberal justices have majority control.
It's already the most expensive judicial election in American history.
The political action committee's cash offer to Wisconsin voters inspired Sen. Bonnie Westlin, DFL-Plymouth, to draft legislation prohibiting those incentives n Minnesota, she told lawmakers during a hearing on the bill Tuesday. It is already illegal under state law to pay or promise any money—or anything of value—in exchange for voting for a certain candidate or for refraining from casting a ballot at all.
This legislation would expand that statute, which makes the conduct a felony-level offense, to include getting someone to register to vote or sign an election-related petition. Even promising a chance to win money would be prohibited.
"This is a provision that will help protect our elections, the security of each individual's right to vote, and it will send a message that we do not want billionaires coming into our state attempting to bribe our citizens and influence our elections," Westlin said.
Republican Sen. Mark Koran of North Branch was skeptical of Westlin's plan, and criticized Democrats for not supporting GOP-backed bills targeting "Zuckerbucks," or funding to local governments from a foundation started by another billionaire, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, during the 2020 election.
"I don't know that this solves a problem that has happened in Minnesota," Koran said. "I get it—knee jerk reaction. Something happened in Wisconsin."
America PAC in the 2024 presidential race also pledged to give $1 million away per day to voters in swing states in the final days before the election for signing the political action committee's petition supporting the U.S. Constitution.
The Minnesota proposal advanced out of the Senate Elections Committee, largely along party lines. Only Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, joined all Democrats to move it forward.
Its future, though, is uncertain. While Democrats have a one-seat majority in the Senate, the House is tied, which will force Republicans and Democrats to work together to broker deals to pass the next two-year budget and any new policies before session ends in mid-May.
Experts say the April 1 election will hold major implications for the midterm elections, since Wisconsin is a battleground state that barely went to President Trump in November's election.
There is a lot at stake in Wisconsin's Supreme Court race. It will determine control of the state's highest court as it prepares to rule on a number of high-profile cases. Minnesota's proposal could impact future elections.
