Archived social media posts from a student Republican operative, Nicholas Jacobs, who received a $1m check from Elon Musk, show that he was deeply immersed in Republican electioneering over the last year, working not only to elect Donald Trump but other party candidates in the state.
They included failed Wisconsin Republican senate candidate Eric Hovde; first-term congressman Tony Wied; incumbent Milwaukee Republican vice-chair Brett Galaszewski; and Brad Schimel, the state supreme court candidate whom Musk has spent $25m supporting.
Jacobs’s check was one part of a reported $25m spent by Musk and groups he funds – a significant chunk of the unprecedented $80m spent on the technically nonpartisan judicial election.
Musk had initially said the $1m checks were given “in appreciation for you taking the time to vote” but then reframed the giveaway to focus on a petition against activist judges after doubts were raised about its legality under local voting rights and bribery laws….
Jacobs got his check at an event on Sunday hosted by Musk. By Monday, local media had identified him as Musk’s beneficiary.
The revelation that he was a Republican operative led to online speculation that the giveaway, meant to induce turnout in the closely contested supreme court race, might have favoured party workers rather than ordinary voters.
Jacobs locked his X account after he was identified as the recipient of one of two $1m checks but archived posts reveal his previous strident public advocacy for national, statewide and local Republican candidates….