Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates Susan Crawford and Brad Schimel clashed in a spirited debate on Wednesday night, setting the stage for a closely watched statewide race in Wisconsin. The contest, scheduled for April 1, has attracted significant attention and funding from high-profile billionaires and outside groups.
The one-hour debate in Milwaukee between liberal judge Susan Crawford and conservative judge Brad Schimel centered on key issues such as reproductive rights and the hefty financial investments pouring into the race. Despite being a nonpartisan election, the ideological balance of the court could be at stake, potentially influencing decisions on abortion rights, labor unions, and redistricting.
Crawford, a state judge from Madison with ties to the Democratic Party, and Schimel, a state judge from Waukesha County and former Republican attorney general, sparred over their respective support from wealthy donors. Liberal billionaire George Soros and groups connected to Elon Musk have already spent millions in what could become the most expensive state Supreme Court campaign in U.S. history.
The candidates traded barbs over their affiliations with these mega-donors, with Crawford accusing Schimel of relying on out-of-state contributions due to dissatisfaction with Musk. Schimel, on the other hand, emphasized his focus on earning the support of Wisconsin voters and distanced himself from outside influences.
The debate highlighted the intense competition for control of the court, especially with the retirement of liberal justice Ann Walsh Bradley. As the race heats up, both candidates are actively campaigning and leveraging financial support from their respective party affiliations.
Overall, the clash between Crawford and Schimel underscored the high stakes and political divisions at play in this pivotal Supreme Court race in Wisconsin.
In recent times, over $2.4 million has been spent on advertisements in the ongoing race, as reported by the ad-tracking firm AdImpact. The America PAC, backed by Elon Musk, has injected more than $4 million into the campaign, primarily focusing on canvassing and political mailers. Musk has utilized his platform to endorse Schimel, emphasizing the importance of voting for Republicans in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race to combat voter fraud. This endorsement came shortly after Tesla, Musk’s electric car company, filed a lawsuit in Wisconsin contesting a state law prohibiting carmakers from owning dealerships, a case that may reach the state’s highest court.
During discussions, both candidates were questioned about potential recusal from matters involving significant donors. Crawford stated she would recuse herself from cases linked to the Wisconsin Democratic Party if impartiality was compromised. Schimel, however, remained uncertain about recusal in the Tesla lawsuit if it reached the Supreme Court.
Another critical issue in the election is reproductive rights and the future of Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban. The candidates sought to portray each other as having preconceived stances on abortion-related cases. The state Supreme Court is anticipated to overturn the ban, although ongoing litigation persists. Planned Parenthood has directly petitioned the court to establish whether the state constitution guarantees a right to abortion.
Past affiliations of both candidates have influenced their positions on abortion rights. Crawford criticized Schimel for his past remarks affirming the validity of the 1849 law and denying a constitutional right to abortion in the state. Schimel defended the law but acknowledged it may not reflect current public sentiment. Crawford, having represented Planned Parenthood, refrained from taking a stance on the issue, emphasizing that the court would decide.
The candidates also clashed on other issues likely to come before the court, such as the repeal of collective bargaining for public workers and challenges to the state’s congressional maps favoring Republicans.
