The race for Wisconsin’s next Supreme Court justice heated up on Wednesday night as liberal judge Susan Crawford and conservative judge Brad Schimel sparred in a debate in Milwaukee. The focus of the debate was on reproductive rights and the millions of dollars being spent on the race by high-profile billionaires and outside groups. The upcoming election will determine the court’s ideological balance and could impact issues related to abortion rights, unions, and congressional maps.
Crawford, a liberal judge from Madison, and Schimel, a conservative judge from Waukesha County, both have received backing from wealthy donors. Crawford criticized Schimel for receiving support from groups associated with Elon Musk, while Schimel slammed Crawford for receiving donations from liberal billionaire George Soros and others. The race has become the most expensive state Supreme Court campaign in U.S. history, with outside groups spending millions to support the candidates.
Reproductive rights and the fate of Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban were also key topics of the debate. Both candidates tried to paint the other as having already made up their minds on the issue. The state Supreme Court is expected to overturn the ban, but there is still pending litigation on the issue. Crawford criticized Schimel for his comments supporting the ban, while Schimel maintained that the law is valid but may not reflect the will of the people today.
Overall, the debate highlighted the stakes of the race in determining the future of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and its impact on key issues facing the state. Both candidates emphasized their qualifications and tried to gain an edge in a closely contested election.
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