Elon Musk-backed group pumps millions into Wisconsin Supreme Court ads
Elon Musk’s allies lead unprecedented spending in Wisconsin Supreme Court race between Schimel and Crawford ahead of April vote.
Updated: 4:12 PM CST Feb 21, 2025
BATTLE. THIS IS A WHOLE NEW WORLD. UPHOLD OUR LAWS AND OUR CONSTITUTION. THE SEVEN WEEK SPRINT. THE RACE FOR WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT. CONTROL OF THE COURT AT STAKE. IT’S THE SUPER BOWL OF POLITICS IN 2025. IN WISCONSIN. THE MAJOR CASES, THE NATIONWIDE ATTENTION, ABORTION UNIONS, VOTER ID. WOULD YOU EVER RECUSE YOURSELF? DID YOU COMMIT TO THEM THAT YOU WILL DO THAT AS A JUSTICE? THE CANDIDATES ARE NOW HERE. WAUKESHA COUNTY JUDGE, FORMER REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL BRAD SCHIMEL. THE LIBERAL CHALLENGER, DANE COUNTY JUDGE SUSAN CRAWFORD. A SPECIAL EDITION OF UP FRONT THE BATTLE FOR STATE SUPREME COURT, THE INTERVIEWS START NOW. THIS IS UP WITH GERRON JORDAN AND POLITICAL DIRECTOR MATT SMITH. HI, EVERYONE. THANKS FOR JOINING US. 51 DAYS TO GO. THE HIGH PROFILE RACE FOR WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT, THE FIRST MAJOR POLITICAL TEST DURING THE NEW TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. THE CANDIDATE FACE OFF APRIL 1ST. THE CONSERVATIVE WAUKESHA COUNTY JUDGE AND FORMER REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL BRAD SCHIMEL, AND THE LIBERAL DANE COUNTY JUDGE, SUSAN CRAWFORD. THE WINNER WILL REPLACE RETIRING LIBERAL JUSTICE ANN WALSH. BRADLEY AND AGAIN, CONTROL OF THE STATE’S HIGH COURT IS AT STAKE. WITH A LOT ON THE LINE. WE SAT DOWN WITH BOTH CANDIDATES THIS PAST WEEK. YOU’RE GOING TO HEAR FROM BOTH OF THEM. WE BEGIN WITH BRAD SCHIMEL. THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. APPRECIATE IT. A VERY IMPORTANT SUPREME COURT RACE HERE IN WISCONSIN. LAST TIME WE SAW A SUPREME COURT RACE HERE TWO YEARS AGO, THE CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE, DANIEL KELLY, LOST TO JANET PROTASIEWICZ BY 11 POINTS. ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY? HOW ARE YOU CAMPAIGNING DIFFERENTLY THAN DANIEL KELLY TWO YEARS AGO? THIS HAS BEEN AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT KIND OF CAMPAIGN. RIGHT FROM THE START I GOT IN THIS RACE 16 MONTHS BEFORE ELECTION DAY BECAUSE I RECOGNIZED A COUPLE OF THINGS. FIRST OFF, YOU CAN’T COUNT ON RUNNING TELEVISION ADS TO WIN THE RACE. YOU’VE GOT TO GO MEET VOTERS WHERE THEY ARE AND LISTEN TO WHAT CONCERNS THEM. IT MAKES YOU A BETTER CANDIDATE. IT’LL MAKE YOU A BETTER PUBLIC SERVANT, TOO. I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT I NEEDED TO TRY TO AVOID A PRIMARY. WE ALL SAW THAT THAT PRIMARY IN 2023 WAS SO DIVISIVE, SO EXPENSIVE. AND YOU KNOW, THE WINNER COMES OUT LIMPING TO ELECTION DAY WITH A MERE SIX WEEKS TO GO, IT’S HARD TO PUT IT BACK TOGETHER. WE ALSO SAW IN THAT LAST RACE JUST HOW POLITICAL THIS RACE, THIS CERTAIN RACE HAS BECOME. ARE YOU BETTER EMBRACING HOW POLITICAL THIS SUPREME COURT RACE HAS BECOME? YOU HAVE TO FACE THE REALITY, YOU KNOW, TO A LARGE DEGREE, THE CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE IN 23 WAS RUNNING A RACE FROM 30 YEARS AGO. IT IS DIFFERENT NOW. YOU STILL CAN’T BREAK THE RULES. AND I WAS PART OF THE REASON I GOT IN THIS RACE WAS BECAUSE IN 2023, I WATCHED A CANDIDATE PROMISING HOW THEY WERE GOING TO RULE ON CASES. THAT’S BREAKING THE RULES. THERE’S A TON OF BIG ISSUES BEFORE THE COURT, AND LIKELY MORE TO COME. JUSTICE HAGEDORN RECENTLY ANNOUNCED HE’S GOING TO RECUSE HIMSELF FROM THE CASE INVOLVING ACT TEN. DID HE MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION ON THAT? YOU KNOW, ONLY HE CAN KNOW THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE A A JUDICIAL OFFICIAL MUST RECUSE. IF YOU HAVE A PERSONAL STAKE OR YOUR IMMEDIATE FAMILY HAS A PERSONAL STAKE IN THIS, LIKE YOU STAND TO GAIN OR LOSE MONEY BASED ON THE OUTCOME, YOU MUST RECUSE. OTHERWISE IT BECOMES A PERSONAL JUDGMENT CALL. JUSTICE HAGEDORN MADE THAT ASSESSMENT AND CONCLUDED THAT BASED ON THE HISTORY HE HAS, HE COULDN’T IN THIS CASE. SO I WOULD SAY THEN, YES, IT IS THE RIGHT DECISION. IF YOU MAKE THAT SEARCHING OF YOUR CONSCIENCE AND THAT’S WHERE YOU LAND, THEN YES, YOU SHOULD GET OUT OF THE CASE. WOULD YOU EVER RECUSE YOURSELF FROM CASES INVOLVING ACT TEN? WELL, I DIDN’T HAVE ANY INVOLVEMENT IN ACT TEN. BY THE TIME I WAS ELECTED ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE CASES WERE ALL DONE IN THE SUPREME COURT AND THE FEDERAL COURTS. IF THERE WAS ANYTHING LINGERING, I DIDN’T HAVE ANY DIRECT INVOLVEMENT. AND I CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, JUSTICE HAGEDORN WAS THE GOVERNOR’S CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL. WHEN THAT WHEN WHEN THAT LAW WAS BEING DRAFTED AND CREATED, HE HAD A VERY DIRECT ROLE THAT I DIDN’T HAVE. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT JUSTICE HAGEDORN BROADLY? HE’S A GOOD, DECENT MAN. I WHEN I WAS ATTORNEY GENERAL, HE WAS STILL FOR PART OF THAT TIME, THE GOVERNOR’S CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL. SO WE WORKED TOGETHER REGULARLY ON THE ISSUES AFFECTING OUR STATE. AND I RESPECT HIS WILLINGNESS. HE’S DOING WHAT HE THINKS IS RIGHT. I DON’T ALWAYS AGREE WITH HIS DECISIONS, BUT HE’S DOING WHAT HE BELIEVES IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. I’M SURE YOU HEAR THAT. ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, SOME REPUBLICANS NOT TOO HAPPY WITH HOW HE’S DONE. ABSOLUTELY SURE. WOULD YOU BACK ANY EFFORTS TO IMPOSE RECUSAL RULES FOR THE COURT? I’D WANT TO. I’D WANT TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE. IT REALLY DOES COME TO COME DOWN TO THIS THIS QUESTION ABOUT WHERE DO YOU STAND? IS THERE A METRIC THAT YOU WOULD LOOK AT TO SEE WHETHER THERE’S A NEED FOR THAT? WELL, YOU ASKED WHAT I WOULD. I SUPPORT PUTTING IN PLACE SOME RULES AND I’D WANT TO KNOW WHAT THOSE WERE BEFORE I DECIDE WHETHER I’D SUPPORT THAT OR NOT. IS THERE A CASE OR ISSUE THAT YOU KNOW RIGHT NOW THAT YOU WOULD RECUSE YOURSELF FROM? I DON’T OFFHAND. THESE I WILL ALWAYS DO THAT SAME SEARCHING OF MY CONSCIENCE. AND CAN I SET A POLITICAL OR PERSONAL VIEW ASIDE SO I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING THAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD SAYING, OH BOY, I’M OUT ON THIS BECAUSE I COULDN’T POSSIBLY BE OBJECTIVE. I DON’T KNOW IF THAT DAY COMES, I’LL DO THE RIGHT THING AND STEP BACK. I WANT TO QUICKLY GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THE WISCONSIN DEMOCRACY CAMPAIGN COMPLAINT THAT THEY FILED AGAINST YOU. THIS PAST WEEK, THE JOURNAL SENTINEL PUBLISHED SOME COMMENTS. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WERE TALKING TO SUPPORTERS, MAKING SOME JOKES ABOUT HOW YOU’RE ASKING FOR SUPPORT. YOU SAID, BEGGING PEOPLE, PLEASE CONSIDER GETTING INVOLVED OR SUPPORTING MY RACE. THE WISCONSIN DEMOCRACY CAMPAIGN SAYS, WELL, YOU’RE BREAKING THE JUDICIAL CODE BY BY ASKING FOR MONEY. DID YOU BREAK THE JUDICIAL CODE? NO, I WASN’T MAKING ANY SOLICITATION THAT DAY. AND I DON’T I DON’T ASK PEOPLE FOR MONEY. I’M NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT, AND I DON’T. WHAT I WAS DOING WAS I WAS DRAWING THE CONTRAST BETWEEN HOW MONEY COMES IN, BECAUSE THE LIBERAL CANDIDATE THEY GET IN THE RACE AND THERE’S A NATIONAL FUNDRAISING MACHINE THAT THEY FLIP THE SWITCH ON AND MONEY COMES POURING IN. SO I WAS DRAWING THAT COMPARISON FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW DIFFERENT THE WORK IS FOR US, BUT I DIDN’T I WASN’T ASKING ANYBODY TO MAKE THE DONATIONS. THIS ELECTION COMES WITHIN THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. YOU WERE OUT IN WASHINGTON, DC FOR SOME INAUGURAL EVENTS IN JANUARY. ELON MUSK HAS THROWN HIS SUPPORT BEHIND YOU AS WELL. HOW BIG OF A FACTOR DO YOU THINK THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WILL PLAY IN THIS RACE? YOU KNOW, I HAVE NO IDEA. I WOKE UP ONE DAY. I THINK IT WAS A THURSDAY, AND ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE HAD SENT ME TEXTS SAYING, HEY, LOOK WHAT ELON MUSK SAID ABOUT YOU. I DIDN’T KNOW THAT WAS COMING. I’VE NEVER MET OR TALKED TO HIM. I’M WELCOMING ANYBODY THAT CAN HELP ME GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THIS RACE, HELP ME RAISE SUPPORT. I DON’T KNOW IF I DON’T. I SUSPECT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS AWARE OF THIS RACE. IT’S BEEN IDENTIFIED BY MANY AS THE MOST IMPORTANT RACE IN AMERICA IN 2025. AND THEY’RE PROBABLY RIGHT. DO YOU LIKE A TRUMP ENDORSEMENT? WHO WOULDN’T WANT THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE SITTING PRESIDENT? WHO IS ENJOYING HIGH POPULARITY RIGHT NOW? AND WHETHER YOU LIKE WHAT HE’S DOING OR NOT, I THINK ANYBODY HAS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HE’S ACCOMPLISHED AN AWFUL LOT SINCE NOVEMBER 5TH, EVEN BEFORE HE WAS OFFICIALLY SWORN IN, HE WAS DOING AN AWFUL LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE MOVED THE BALL ON PROMISES HE MADE. I APPRECIATE THAT ABOUT HIM, THAT WHEN HE MAKES CAMPAIGN PROMISES, HE CONSIDERS THOSE SOMETHING THAT HE’S SUPPOSED TO CARRY OUT. SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT ABOUT HIM. ABORTION, OBVIOUSLY, ANOTHER CASE BEFORE BEFORE THE COURT. ARE YOU SEEKING OR WOULD YOU LIKE THE ENDORSEMENT OF PRO-LIFE WISCONSIN? I’M NOT SEEKING THE ENDORSEMENT. I HAVEN’T FILLED OUT ANY QUESTIONNAIRES FOR THEM. I’M LOOKING FOR SUPPORT OF WISCONSIN VOTERS. THAT’S WHY I’VE CAMPAIGNED IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR 72 COUNTIES AT LEAST ONCE IN EVERY COUNTY. AND I’M CONTINUING TO JUST RUN LAPS, GOING TO THE VOTERS DIRECTLY WITH MY MESSAGE ABOUT RESTORING OBJECTIVITY AND INTEGRITY AND HUMILITY TO OUR COURT. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST PRESSING OR MOST CRITICAL ISSUES THAT COULD BE COULD COME BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT IN THIS NEXT TERM? WELL, THERE ARE BIG CASES THAT A LOT OF REGULAR VOTERS DON’T REALLY APPRECIATE HOW SIGNIFICANT THEY ARE. THERE ARE CASES THAT ARE GOING TO BE ADDRESSING THE BALANCE OF POWER BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. THOSE ARE A BIG DEAL. WE KNOW THAT ONE OF THE ABORTION CASES DEALING WITH THE 1849 LAW HAS BEEN ARGUED ALREADY. I EXPECT THAT DECISION WILL BE DONE LONG BEFORE I GET TO THE BENCH ON AUGUST 1ST. THE OTHER CASE, THERE’S ANOTHER ABORTION CASE STILL IN THE PIPELINE. THAT ONE. THEY HAVEN’T HAD ARGUMENTS ON IT YET, SO THAT MIGHT STILL BE LINGERING. I DON’T KNOW. THOSE CASES ARE ALL GOING TO BE OUT THERE. AND YOU WOULD STAY ON THE BENCH IN THAT ABORTION CASE, THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD CASE. NOT RECUSE YOURSELF, IS WHAT? YEAH, YEAH. THERE’S NO, YOU KNOW, THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT PUT THIS DECISION, RECOGNIZED THAT THIS DECISION BELONGS IN THE HANDS OF THE VOTERS. AND I RESPECT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS. I HAVE MY PERSONAL VALUES THAT COME FROM OUR HISTORY. MY WIFE AND I ARE BLESSED TO HAVE ADOPTED TWO BABIES. THEY’RE NOW IN THEIR 20S. TWO THEN 18 YEAR OLD YOUNG WOMEN MADE TREMENDOUS SACRIFICES TO CARRY THEIR BABIES TO TERM AND MAKE THE DECISION TO GIVE US THE CHANCE TO HAVE THE FAMILY. WE CAN’T HAVE BIOLOGICALLY BECAUSE OF THAT EXPERIENCE. I TREASURE LIFE EVEN WHEN IT’S NOT PLANNED, BUT I RESPECT THAT THE LAW PUTS THIS IN THE HANDS OF THE VOTERS, AND I WILL RESPECT THEIR WILL. DO YOUR VALUES DICTATE HOW YOU WILL RULE? I KNOWN THIS KIND OF GOES BACK TO THE DISCUSSION ABOUT RECUSAL. IF MY VALUES ARE DICTATING HOW I’M GOING TO RULE, THEN THAT’S A PROBLEM. NOW, IF YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT VALUES LIKE RESPECT FOR OTHER PEOPLE, I MEAN, THESE ARE THINGS I CONSIDER VALUES. MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME RESPECT. OTHER PEOPLE LEAVE THINGS BETTER THAN YOU FOUND THEM. I RESPECT THE LIMITS ON YOUR POWER AS A JUDGE. RESPECT THE SEPARATION OF POWERS, RESPECT THE CONSTITUTION, THE LAW. THOSE ARE ALL VALUES THAT ABSOLUTELY WILL AFFECT MY DECISION MAKING. BUT PERSONAL OPINIONS? NO, THEY DON’T HAVE ANY ROLE. THE SUPREME COURT CANDIDATE, BRAD SCHIMEL. UP NEXT, HIS CHALLENGER, SUSAN
Elon Musk-backed group pumps millions into Wisconsin Supreme Court ads
Elon Musk’s allies lead unprecedented spending in Wisconsin Supreme Court race between Schimel and Crawford ahead of April vote.
Updated: 4:12 PM CST Feb 21, 2025
Billionaires and political donors pour millions into Wisconsin Supreme Court race ahead of April 1 election. The contest between conservative candidate Brad Schimel and Democratic-backed Susan Crawford has attracted significant out-of-state funding, potentially becoming the most expensive court race in U.S. history.Elon Musk-affiliated groups have committed substantial resources to support Schimel’s campaign, including television advertisements and a $1 million investment in get-out-the-vote initiatives. While Schimel stated he has never spoken with Musk, the tech billionaire endorsed him on X, the social media platform he owns, urging followers to vote Republican.Democratic donors are pumping millions into the race as well. The state Democratic Party received contributions from prominent figures, including George Soros and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, directing funds toward Crawford’s campaign. In Wisconsin’s officially nonpartisan Supreme Court races, partisan interests back their favored candidates. Liberals currently hold the majority after Justice Janet Protasiewicz’s 2023 victory over former Justice Dan Kelly, ending 15 years of conservative dominance. The election for the open Supreme Court seat is slated for April 1, after Justice Ann Walsh Bradley announced her departure in April 2024. Her term will end July 31, 2025.WISN 12 is hosting a live, primetime debate March 12 featuring both candidates. The winner of the April 1 election will serve a 10-year term. Top HeadlinesVideo evidence sparks debate in Hartland school bus driver intoxication case’We want her home’: Mother of missing Beaver Dam teen desperate for daughter’s returnNFL draft at Lambeau Field unveils massive fan experience for 2025Milwaukee Public School Board approves funding for school resource officersMilwaukee church vandalized, set on fire WATCH Whitefish Bay police help free dog from jar, trying to get last treat
Billionaires and political donors pour millions into Wisconsin Supreme Court race ahead of April 1 election.
The contest between conservative candidate Brad Schimel and Democratic-backed Susan Crawford has attracted significant out-of-state funding, potentially becoming the most expensive court race in U.S. history.
Elon Musk-affiliated groups have committed substantial resources to support Schimel’s campaign, including television advertisements and a $1 million investment in get-out-the-vote initiatives.
While Schimel stated he has never spoken with Musk, the tech billionaire endorsed him on X, the social media platform he owns, urging followers to vote Republican.
Democratic donors are pumping millions into the race as well. The state Democratic Party received contributions from prominent figures, including George Soros and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, directing funds toward Crawford’s campaign.
In Wisconsin’s officially nonpartisan Supreme Court races, partisan interests back their favored candidates.
Liberals currently hold the majority after Justice Janet Protasiewicz’s 2023 victory over former Justice Dan Kelly, ending 15 years of conservative dominance.
The election for the open Supreme Court seat is slated for April 1, after Justice Ann Walsh Bradley announced her departure in April 2024. Her term will end July 31, 2025.
WISN 12 is hosting a live, primetime debate March 12 featuring both candidates.
The winner of the April 1 election will serve a 10-year term.
Top Headlines
WATCH Whitefish Bay police help free dog from jar, trying to get last treat
