Fact Check: Barney Sanders said Elton musk bought and stole the election

Fact Check: "Barney Sanders said Elton Musk bought and stole the election"

What We Know

Senator Bernie Sanders has been vocal about the influence of billionaire Elon Musk in political campaigns, particularly in the context of the Wisconsin Supreme Court race. On March 31, 2025, Sanders criticized Musk for allegedly "buying votes" with large donations to support conservative candidates, specifically stating that Musk was handing out "million dollar checks" to sway the election in favor of an anti-choice judge (Common Dreams). Sanders emphasized the need for public funding of elections to combat the influence of wealthy individuals in politics, referencing the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which allows unlimited corporate spending in elections (Common Dreams).

Musk's involvement included significant financial contributions through his super PAC, America PAC, which reportedly spent over $12 million to support the conservative candidate, Brad Schimel, in a race that saw total spending of approximately $90 million (Common Dreams). Sanders also accused Musk of attempting to bribe voters by offering $1,000 to those who signed a petition against "activist judges" (Common Dreams).

Analysis

The claim that "Barney Sanders said Elton Musk bought and stole the election" is misleading in its phrasing. While Sanders did express concerns about Musk's financial influence in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, he did not explicitly use the word "stole" in relation to the election. Instead, Sanders highlighted the broader issue of campaign finance and the potential for wealthy individuals to unduly influence electoral outcomes.

The sources cited, particularly from Common Dreams, provide a detailed account of Sanders's statements and the context surrounding Musk's financial contributions (Common Dreams, Common Dreams). However, the reliability of these sources can be questioned due to their progressive bias, which may color the interpretation of Musk's actions. On the other hand, mainstream outlets like Fox News also reported on Sanders's comments, framing Musk as a "right-wing extremist" and discussing his significant financial contributions to political campaigns (Fox News, Fox News). This indicates a broader consensus on Musk's controversial role in political financing, albeit with varying interpretations.

While Sanders's statements reflect a legitimate concern about the influence of money in politics, the claim that he accused Musk of "stealing" the election is not substantiated by direct quotes or evidence. Instead, Sanders's rhetoric focuses on the ethical implications of such financial influence rather than outright theft.

Conclusion

Verdict: Partially True
The claim that "Barney Sanders said Elton Musk bought and stole the election" is partially true. Sanders did express strong criticism of Musk's financial influence in elections, framing it as a significant problem for democracy. However, the specific wording of "stole the election" is not supported by direct evidence from Sanders's statements. Therefore, while the essence of the claim captures Sanders's concerns about electoral integrity and financial influence, it misrepresents the exact language and implications of his comments.

Fact Check: Barney Sanders said Elton musk bought and stole the election