The Wisconsin Supreme Court race has become the most expensive judicial contest in U.S. history, as conservatives face the chance to take back the 4-3 liberal majority, and Democrats view the battle as a chance to push policy and redraw legislative maps that could ultimately lose Republicans two U.S. House seats.
The April 1 election is between Trump-backed Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge and former Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel and Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford who previously represented left-wing groups like Planned Parenthood as an attorney and is endorsed by groups like the pro-abortion EMILY’s list. The candidates are making their final pitches on Monday ahead of the election and after the end of early voting on Sunday.
The race is expected to reach $100 million, which practically doubles the previous record spent on a judicial contest held by the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election. To date, more than $90 million has been spent on the race, the Associated Press reported, citing the Brennan Center.
“For perspective, about $100 million was spent on 68 supreme court elections across 26 states in 2021 and 2022 combined, according to a Brennan Center tally,” the report states.
READ MORE: Exclusive — Eyes on Wisconsin: State Supreme Court Race That Could Bring