A Wisconsin appeals court rejected an attempt to block Elon Musk from giving $1 million each to two voters who sign a petition against “activist” judges. The payments are part of Musk’s support for conservative state Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel in a pivotal election that could determine partisan control of the court.

The Center Square reports:

A Wisconsin appeals court on Saturday declined to halt Elon Musk’s plan to give $1 million each to two voters who sign a petition against “activist” judges who have ruled against President Donald Trump’s efforts to cut government spending.

Musk plans the giveaway at a Sunday night rally in Green Bay, Wis., for state Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel, a conservative Waukesha County judge who faces liberal Dane County Judge Susan Crawford in Tuesday’s pivotal election, which will determine partisan control of the court.

Wisconsin Democrat Attorney General Josh Kaul filed suit Friday in an attempt to block the payments, claiming they were illegal. But a district court judge declined to issue an injunction Friday and the appeals court did as well Saturday.

Musk and President Donald Trump have endorsed Schimel in the Supreme Court race, calling Crawford an “activist” judge.

“Vote for Superjudge Brad Schimel in Wisconsin on Tuesday,” Musk wrote on X Sunday, before the Green Bay rally. “The Republican House majority is razor thin and the Democrats want to redrew Wisconsin districts to flip- the House and stop the government reforms.”

Musk’s post references his and Trump’s efforts to identify and cut what they call wasteful and fraudulent federal government spending, and the fact that Republicans hold a slim, 218-213, majority in the U.S. House with four seats vacant. Many Democrat members of Congress have opposed the cuts.

After Tuesday’s election, the Wisconsin Supreme Court could decide a number of key issues, including challenges to the state’s congressional maps.

The winner between Shimel and Crawford will replace retiring liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley. Democrats currently hold a 5-4 advantage on Wisconsin’s highest court.

The Schimel v. Crawford election is the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history, with campaign spending approaching $100 million, according to reports.

Louisiana voters rejected four proposed constitutional amendments, including measures on justice, juvenile crime, taxation, and judicial elections. The amendments, aimed at reshaping the state’s approach to these issues, were all defeated by more than 60% of voters. Governor Landry expressed disappointment but vowed to continue working for positive change in the state.

The Center Square reports:

Louisiana voters overwhelmingly rejected four proposed constitutional amendments which aimed to reshape the state’s approach to justice, juvenile crime, taxation, and judicial elections. Each amendment was rejected by more than 60% of voters.

“This was a “primal scream” kind of vote, driven by robust Democratic EV turnout that I’m not seeing being offset by a strong GOP Election Day vote,” John Couvillon, an award-winning pollster, said in a post on X.

“Although we are disappointed in tonight’s results, we do not see this as a failure. We realize how hard positive change can be to implement in a state that is conditioned for failure,” Gov. Jeff Landry said in a statement. “We will continue working to give our citizens more opportunities to keep more of their hard-earned money and provide a better future for Louisianians. This is not the end for us, and we will continue to fight to make the generational changes for Louisiana to succeed.”

Amendment 1: Expanded Court Powers and Specialty Courts

Voters rejected a measure expanding the Louisiana Supreme Court’s disciplinary authority over out-of-state attorneys and allowing lawmakers to establish specialized trial courts that cross district lines. The amendment followed controversy over mass hurricane lawsuits filed by an out-of-state law firm and was challenged in court earlier this month. Amendment 1 was rejected by over 170,000 votes.

Amendment 2: Sweeping Fiscal Overhaul

Amendment 2, which would have rewrote Article VII of the Louisiana Constitution, was rejected by over 150,000 votes. The 100+ page overhaul includes capping state spending growth, consolidating reserve funds, shifting nearly $2 billion from education savings accounts to pay down retirement debt, and phasing out business inventory taxes. It has been a cornerstone of Landry’s tax reform agenda.

Amendment 3: Adult Prosecution for Juveniles

This amendment would allow lawmakers to expand the list of crimes for which minors can be tried as adults without another constitutional vote. Authored by Sen. Heather Cloud, R-Turkey Creek and opposed by youth justice advocates who argue the current list is already broad enough, Amendment 3 saw the most resounding rejection−a margin of over 180,000.

Amendment 4: Judicial Election Timing Fix

A technical amendment to align special judicial election timing with Louisiana’s soon-to-be closed-party primary system was rejected by over 120,000. Supporters say it prevents logistical issues when filling judicial vacancies; opponents said the change was minor and could have been handled by statute. It was the only measure not subject to a legal challenge.

A controversial gun control bill, SB 25-003, has passed the Colorado General Assembly and is expected to be signed into law by Governor Jared Polis. The bill, which initially banned the sale of most semi-automatic rifles, was amended to require a firearms safety course eligibility card and qualifying education course for purchases. Opponents argue the legislation infringes on gun rights and question its constitutionality.

As The Center Square reports:

A controversial gun control bill has cleared the Colorado General Assembly and now heads to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.

Senate Bill 25-003, when introduced, initially outright banned the sale or purchase of most semi-automatic rifles or shotguns that take detachable magazines and exempted firearms with “permanently fixed” magazines.

The bill was later amended to allow purchases if an individual secures a “firearms safety course eligibility card” from their local sheriff department and then completes a qualifying firearm education course.

SB 25-003 passed a concurrent vote of 19-15-1 in the upper chamber on Friday after the House passed it with amendments earlier this week.

The bill’s Democratic sponsors argue the legislation is necessary to enforce the state’s 2013 ban on magazines that hold more than 15 rounds. Opponents argue that the legislation amounts to a firearm owner identification card and question its constitutionality.

“We passed legislation – in this building, in this General Assembly in 2013 – that limited the sale and possession of high-capacity magazines over 15 [rounds],” said bill sponsor Sen. Tom Sullivan, whose son was killed in the 2012 Aurora theater shooting.

“In the 10-12 years since, it has been woefully inadequate [and] they were not enforcing it. We knew they were not enforcing it,” said Sullivan, D-Centennial.

Sullivan noted the Boulder King Soopers shooting in 2021 and the Club Q shooting in 2022 as examples where the gunmen used illegal high-capacity magazines.

“If we allow the government to redefine rights as privileges, which I argue this bill does, then we place our freedoms at the mercy of those in power,” Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen said Friday leading up to the vote.

“Rights, once treated as privileges, can be restricted, taxed, licensed and ultimately, if they can do all of that to them, they can take those rights away,” the Republican legislator said.

Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, is expected to sign SB 25-003 into law.

Other gun bills have advanced through the legislature recently, such as a bill to raise the age for ammunition purchases from 18 to 21 and a bill to require gun show operators to have liability insurance.

Democrats failed to pass outright bans on so-called assault weapons during the last two legislative sessions.