March 30 (Reuters) - Billionaire Elon Musk on Sunday

handed out million-dollar checks to two voters in Wisconsin and

promised smaller payments to others who help elect a

conservative candidate to the state's top court in a closely

watched election.

The Tesla CEO, a top adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump,

handed out oversized checks at a rally in Green Bay as he sought

to drum up enthusiasm for a state Supreme Court election that is

already the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history.

Musk said he would also pay supporters $20 for every voter

they recruit over the next two days.

He said he was spending the money to raise awareness of a

race in which liberal Susan Crawford seems to be running ahead

of conservative Brad Schimel.

"We actually are in serious danger of losing the election,"

he said. "We've got to pull a rabbit out of a hat."

The April 1 contest will determine the ideological tilt of

the state's top court as it considers abortion rights, labor

rights and possibly election rules. Technically nonpartisan, the

race is seen as an early referendum on Trump in a politically

competitive state.

Musk warned the court might redraw legislative districts in

a way that could cause Trump's Republicans to lose seats in the

U.S. House of Representatives.

"I think this will be important for the future of

civilization. It's that significant," Musk said.

As of last week, groups affiliated with Musk had spent at

least $17.5 million to support Schimel, according to New York

University's Brennan Center for Justice -- more than one-fifth

of the $81 million spent in total on the race.

Musk's $1 million giveaway echoed his tactics from the 2024

presidential election, when he gave checks to voters who signed

petitions supporting conservative causes.

Wisconsin's attorney general, Democrat Josh Kaul, sued to

block the giveaway but the state supreme court ruled it could go

ahead, according to the Washington Post.

Musk spent more than $250 million to help elect Trump last

year, far more than any other individual, and his appearance in

Wisconsin showed his willingness to get involved in downballot

races as well.

Trump has deputized Musk to oversee an unprecedented effort

to slash the federal government that has effectively shuttered

several agencies and fired tens of thousands of workers.