A Group Funded By Elon Musk Is Behind Deceptive Ads In Crucial Wisconsin Supreme Court Race

A group backed by billionaire Elon Musk is behind a set of deceptive attack ads and text messages targeting voters just weeks ahead of the election for a seat on Wisconsin's Supreme Court, employing a battleground state strategy it used last year against Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

The ads are labeled as coming from a group called Progress 2028 and are made to look like authentic messages of support for Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford , who is backed by Democrats. They describe her as a "progressive champion" who will 'stand up for immigrants," defend Planned Parenthood and promote a justice system that gives criminals 'second chances."

But records show the ads that appear on Facebook and Instagram and in text messages to some voters are underwritten by Building America's Future. That's a national conservative group that counts Musk among its biggest donors, a Wall Street Journal report revealed.

The ads largely hew to the facts in Crawford's background but focus on hot-button issues such as abortion, immigration and criminal justice reform. They call for Crawford to "boldly proclaim her progressive values," language that potentially diminishes her standing with moderate or conservative voters in a race that is - at least officially - nonpartisan.

The new collection of ads is the latest example of how Musk's extraordinary wealth has been used to promote the Republican Party's political interests, including in a contest for ideological control of the highest court in one of the country's most important presidential swing states .