President Donald Trump has officially endorsed Brad Schimel in the upcoming Wisconsin state Supreme Court race, which has attracted significant funding from major donors due to its potential national impact. Schimel, a conservative and former Wisconsin Attorney General currently serving as a judge in Waukesha County, has received Trump’s support. Republicans have expressed concerns that Schimel’s opponent, Susan Crawford from Dane County and a preferred candidate among Democrats, may advocate for redistricting efforts that could negatively impact two U.S. House Republicans in the future.
Trump emphasized the importance of the race in a post on TRUTH Social, urging voters to back the “Common Sense Republican” candidate, Brad. Early voting had already begun, and Trump called on supporters to participate in the election.
This is not the first time Trump has backed Schimel. The Wisconsin Supreme Court election is set for April 1, with Trump urging his supporters to vote early.
Trump criticized Crawford on social media, accusing her of being lenient towards criminals and highlighting her liberal viewpoints. He stressed the significance of upholding the rule of law, supporting law enforcement, and safeguarding constitutional rights by voting for Schimel.
Both Democrats and Republicans have criticized the influence of billionaires in the election. George Soros donated $1 million to Wisconsin Democrats to support Crawford, while tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency, funded groups promoting Schimel with over $10 million.
Various wealthy individuals, including Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Lynde Uihlein, Reid Hoffman, and Joe Ricketts, have contributed substantial amounts to support their respective candidates. Donald Trump Jr. recently hosted an event in support of Schimel.
The race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to have national ramifications, with issues such as redistricting, unions, and transgender rights at stake.
The article features a campaign rally held by Crawford in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on Monday, Nov. 5, 2018. Republicans have labeled Crawford as “dangerously liberal,” pointing to her support from Soros, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and activist groups advocating for gender-transition surgeries for minors and inclusion of biological men in women’s sports. A source close to the race expressed concerns about Crawford’s candidacy, viewing it as part of a broader “radical” shift in Wisconsin, exemplified by Justice Janet Protasiewicz’s contentious election and Gov. Tony Evers’ substitution of “mother” with “inseminated person” in the state budget. Republicans further criticize Crawford for her perceived readiness to “legislate from the bench,” referencing her past challenges to the state’s voter ID law and her participation in a liberal donor group event aiming to unseat Reps. Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden. Wisconsin Republicans alleged in January that Crawford aimed to secure “selling two of Wisconsin seats,” following a New York Times report suggesting donors anticipated her victory leading to Steil’s and Van Orden’s removal. Additional reporting by The Associated Press.
