MADISON, Wis. — In the closely watched race for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, the Republican-supported candidate, Brad Schimel, raised concerns about his opponent’s benefactors, specifically highlighting substantial donations from liberal philanthropist George Soros. Schimel expressed apprehension about these contributions during a press briefing, emphasizing what he perceives as a significant difference between his and his opponent’s financial backers.
The Supreme Court race is ostensibly nonpartisan; however, it has become a battlefront with clear Republican support for Schimel and Democratic backing for Susan Crawford. The election, which is slated for April 1, could potentially shift the ideological balance of the court. Key issues, such as abortion rights, union matters, election laws, and congressional districting, are either currently under review or anticipated to be presented to the court soon.
With substantial financial inflows evident on both sides, Schimel and Crawford have each sought to distance their campaigns from the influence of their contributors. Schimel, speaking at a Wisconsin Counties Association event, assured, “My commitment is to the law, nothing else.” Similarly, Crawford assured that she has made no promises in exchange for financial support.
Support for Schimel includes a $1 million contribution from Elon Musk’s America PAC, alongside $1.6 million through Building America’s Future, funding attack ads aimed at Crawford. The state Republican Party has also injected nearly $1.7 million into Schimel’s campaign.
Conversely, Crawford’s backing features a $3 million injection from the state Democratic Party, which includes $1 million from George Soros and $500,000 from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. Schimel argues that the association with Soros is more concerning than Musk’s involvement, given Soros’s contentious stances on various issues like police funding.
Crawford’s campaign, through spokesperson Derrick Honeyman, countered that Musk’s investment suggests that Schimel is being influenced by his donors. Honeyman also pushed back against allegations that Crawford advocated for biased redistricting in favor of Democrats, an accusation that Schimel levied following Crawford’s participation in an event with Democratic donors.
The influx of funds from affluent donors and political parties has prompted discussions about whether either candidate might need to recuse themselves from related judicial cases. A high-profile lawsuit concerning Tesla, the electric car company owned by Musk, challenges Wisconsin regulations at the heart of this debate and could ultimately land before the Supreme Court. Schimel has remarked that he remains uninformed about the lawsuit but will approach it impartially. Crawford has made similar commitments regarding potential conflicts with her donor network.
