Wisconsin People's Party Statement on Wisconsin Supreme Court Election

March 15, 2025 - PRLog -- The Big Money Battle

"The 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court race was the most expensive state supreme court race in US history," says John Lemberger, Vice President of the Wisconsin People's Party. "Now the 2025 supreme court race is on track to absolutely shatter that record. We're looking at a projected $75 million in spending on this race. Just to put that in perspective - traditionally, state supreme court candidates raise about $1 million dollars."

"What's driving this insane amount of cash? For one, Elon Musk has gone all-in for Republican-endorsed candidate Brad Schimel. He's funneling money through two groups: America PAC ($4.3 million) and a 401c4 dark money group ($4 million). But here's where it gets really interesting - Tesla is currently suing Wisconsin for blocking them from owning dealerships in the state. And guess where that case could very well end up? Right in front of the Wisconsin State Supreme Court," Lemberger explains.

"This is especially concerning because when conservatives previously held the court majority, they adopted a recusal rule stating justices don't have to recuse themselves from cases brought by groups that helped them win election. And who wrote that rule? The Wisconsin Manufacturing and Commerce lobbying group. How convenient," adds Lemberger.

"Schimel is also a big Trump supporter (and we all know Musk and Trump are joined at the hip these days)."

A Debate With Two Sides

"On the other hand, the recent debate between Schimel and liberal candidate Susan Crawford wasn't just a one-sided affair," notes Fanny Behrens, Secretary of the Wisconsin People's Party. "While Crawford criticized Schimel for expressing opinions on pending cases (particularly the 1849 abortion law), claiming this showed a lack of judicial impartiality, Schimel defended himself by arguing his comments were taken out of context."

"Yes, Musk's financial backing became a central point, with Crawford alleging an attempt to 'buy' a Supreme Court seat. But the debate also revealed that Crawford herself faced questions about her appearance on a donor call with an email suggesting influence over congressional redistricting - though she maintained she had no prior knowledge of the email's content and didn't discuss redistricting," Behrens points out.

"And while connections to national politics loomed large, Schimel attempted to distance himself from Trump despite previous statements suggesting otherwise, asserting his commitment to upholding the law regardless of political affiliation."

Where We Stand

Judicial races should not be this partisan," states Dean South, Treasurer of the Wisconsin People's Party. "These positions are technically nonpartisan for a reason, but that's become a joke. Just look at how heated everything has become, with donor money essentially deciding the race before voters even get to the polls."

"When billionaires and special interests can pour unlimited funds into judicial races, we're not electing judges anymore - we're auctioning off seats on the bench. This isn't just a Wisconsin problem; it's happening across the country, and it's a direct threat to the independent judiciary our democracy depends on," South emphasizes.

"Both sides claim to want fair and impartial courts, but then participate in a system that's anything but. If we want judges who are truly independent arbiters of the law rather than political actors, we need to rethink how we elect them and how these campaigns are funded. Otherwise, we're just watching a political arms race with black robes."

https://withepeople.net