In the heated debate between liberal judge Susan Crawford and conservative judge Brad Schimel vying to become Wisconsin’s next Supreme Court justice, the focus was primarily on reproductive rights and the massive amount of money being spent on the race by high-profile billionaires and outside groups. The outcome of the election, scheduled for April 1, will determine the court’s ideological balance and potentially impact issues related to abortion rights, unions, and congressional maps.
Crawford, a state judge in Madison, criticized Schimel, a state judge in Waukesha County, for his backing from outside groups associated with Elon Musk, highlighting the influence of wealthy mega-donors in the race. Schimel, on the other hand, criticized Crawford for receiving donations from liberal billionaire George Soros and other prominent figures.
The race has become the most expensive state Supreme Court campaign in U.S. history, with significant spending from Musk-aligned groups and others supporting Schimel. The candidates sparred over their backers and big-money interests, with accusations flying back and forth about influence and control in the race.
Reproductive rights, specifically the state’s 1849 abortion ban, emerged as a key issue in the debate, with both candidates trying to portray the other as having a preconceived stance on the matter. The fate of collective bargaining for public workers and challenges to the state’s congressional maps were also discussed as potential issues before the court.
The candidates faced questions about recusal from cases involving big donors, with Crawford pledging to recuse herself if necessary while Schimel hesitated on a specific scenario. Overall, the debate highlighted a fierce contest with significant implications for the future of the court in Wisconsin.
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