A vote to select a new Supreme Court judge in the northern U.S. state of Wisconsin typically wouldn’t cause much of a stir.
However, once the planet’s wealthiest individual showed interest in the competition, attention surged, leading to demonstrations on Sunday that attracted sizable groups of participants.
Technology tycoon and controversial political figure Elon Musk, who is closely aligned with President Donald Trump, has invested significantly in the Tuesday elections, aiming for a victory favoring conservative candidates.
The progressive contender, 60-year-old Susan Crawford, was running her campaign through traditional means by speaking to a gathering at an antique store event on a wet Sunday morning.
"So Elon Musk, folks, that guy, right? He has now spent more than $25 million, it goes up every day," Crawford told the crowd.
"He's working as the unelected right-hand man to the president. He's got an agenda."
If Crawford's Republican-backed opponent, Brad Schimel, beats her, he will tip the balance on the Wisconsin court to the right.
Once every four years Wisconsin -- home to six million people and mainly known for beer and cheese production -- becomes a vital swing state in a presidential election.
Straight-armed salute
And if the conduct or result of that poll are challenged, it is the Wisconsin Supreme Court that will have to rule on that.
Musk's support for Schimel could, therefore, be a political game-changer.
But at small-town rallies, the South African-born oligarch's eruption into Wisconsin's affairs seems to have provoked as much resistance as support.
Rob Patterson, a 65-year-old retired electrical engineer, came to a rally in Crawford with a sign showing Musk giving a straight-armed salute.
"Hey bloke, our Supreme Court isn’t up for grabs," the sign said.
After purchasing a $277 million position in Trump's presidential campaign last year, the head of Tesla and SpaceX has acquired unparalleled influence as a non-elected official.
Once Trump returned to the White House he invited his sponsor to head a new cost-cutting agency named after an internet meme: the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.
Within a few weeks, Musk has swiftly dismissed or put on hold the work of tens of thousands of federal employees, slashed foreign aid funding, and started the process of dissolving multiple government agencies.
"It's like a bull in a china shop. He has no idea what he's doing," complained Patterson.
Outside a supermarket in Elkhorn, 70-year old retired elementary school teacher Linda Suskey says she plans to vote for Crawford to keep balance in the court.
And she doesn't have much time for Musk's blandishments.
"He uses his money to get what he wants, which is more money," she told AFP.
I believe he has far too much authority, and he isn’t accountable to anyone — plus, he’s essentially manipulating situations to benefit the wealthy even more.
These opinions are not shared by everyone. Wisconsin remains a battleground state for various reasons, and some conservative voters such as 60-year-old Matt Edler consider Musk's DOGE efforts to be "outstanding."
"President has appointed Elon Musk... for this task. If not his, another person’s name would have served just as well, however, I believe these measures are justified," he stated.
'Activist judges'
But Edler's not sure yet whether he will vote on Tuesday, and he said he wasn't aware of what Musk has been doing to help Schimel defeat Crawford.
Aside from campaign donations to the conservative, Musk has promised two prize checks of $1 million each to two voters who turn out in the court race.
This mirrored his scheme during the presidential race to hand out $1 million a day to a voter who registered in a swing state vital to Trump's victory.
Through his political organization, Musk has also offered $100 each to voters who sign his petition against "activist judges" in Wisconsin.
When he launched the petition, Crawford accused him of seeking to buy a seat on the state supreme court in order to swing judgements in favor of his companies.
Tesla has launched a legal challenge to Wisconsin's law banning car automakers from directly owning car dealerships. The case could well end up before the court.