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MADISON, Wis. — The highly anticipated debate between candidates vying for a pivotal seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court is set for Wednesday, marking their only forum before the crucial April 1 election. The outcome will significantly influence the ideological balance of the court.
This election has drawn notable attention, including from influential figures like Elon Musk, highlighting its status as a critical campaign in a key battleground state for the presidency. The stakes are high, as the court is tasked with addressing significant legal issues, including abortion rights, the future of public sector unions, voting regulations, and redistricting.
In this race, Waukesha County Circuit Judge Brad Schimel, a former Republican attorney general, faces off against Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford, the Democrat challenger who is making her statewide debut.
The candidates are addressing several pivotal issues:
Crawford, supported by Planned Parenthood, has a history of advocating for abortion rights, arguing against the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Her campaign has critiqued Schimel’s stance on abortion, emphasizing his previous opposition while serving as attorney general.
Conversely, Schimel aligns with anti-abortion advocates, insisting that an 1849 law prohibiting abortion remains valid under state law. He has faced backlash from Crawford and current justices for suggesting that the court’s liberal majority was swayed by emotions in relation to abortion cases.
Both candidates assert that their personal beliefs on abortion will not influence their judicial decisions.
Crawford previously challenged Wisconsin’s restrictive laws on collective bargaining for public workers. This legislation, known as Act 10, was a key point of contention during the administration of former Republican Governor Scott Walker, positioning Wisconsin as a focal point in the national discourse surrounding union rights.
A ruling from a Dane County judge asserting the majority of Act 10 as unconstitutional awaits a hearing in the state Supreme Court, heightening the significance of the upcoming election.
Schimel previously expressed his commitment to defending Act 10 during his tenure as attorney general, asserting that its limitations should not extend to certain groups, including police and firefighters, who were exempt from its provisions.
Crawford also pursued legal actions against Wisconsin’s controversial voter ID law, although these efforts did not succeed. The upcoming ballot will feature a proposal aimed at enshrining this law into the state constitution, reflecting a strategy by Republicans to solidify its position against potential future challenges.
Criticism has emerged regarding Schimel’s handling of over 4,000 untested sexual assault evidence kits during his tenure. Crawford and her supporters argue that he did not adequately address the backlog, which stretched for more than two years. Schimel counters that the Justice Department faced challenges in inventorying the kits and securing testing through overwhelmed private laboratories.
Wisconsin’s Justice Department uncovered approximately 6,800 untested kits in 2014, with the backlog finally resolved in 2019, after Schimel left office.
Campaign advertisements feature prominent cases handled by both candidates, with each side accusing the other of being lenient on crime.
Schimel’s prior experience as the Waukesha County district attorney has garnered him endorsements from various law enforcement bodies, including a majority of the county sheriffs in Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Fraternal Order of Police, and the Milwaukee Police Association.
Crawford’s background as a prosecutor in the Democratic attorney general’s office has led to significant support from Milwaukee and Dane County sheriffs, as well as many judges throughout the state.
The election will ultimately determine if the court will maintain its liberal majority, established in 2023, or revert to conservative control that lasted for 15 years prior.
This Supreme Court race has gained national significance, aided by substantial funding from groups associated with Musk, contributing over $8 million to support Schimel. Meanwhile, Crawford has also received contributions from notable figures within the Democratic Party, including philanthropist George Soros and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, although their funding has not matched Musk’s scale.
In addition to campaign events, Donald Trump Jr. and activist Charlie Kirk are scheduled to co-host a town hall in Wisconsin aimed at motivating voter turnout in favor of Schimel.
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abcnews.go.com