Trump's Trials - Out-of-state billionaires spend big money in Wisconsin Supreme Court race

Episode Date: March 31, 2025

Wisconsin's Supreme Court race on Tuesday could rake in $100 million in donations, with the most coming from out-of-state billionaires, including Elon Musk, George Soros, the Uihleins and JB Pritzker. Support NPR and hear every episode sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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I mean, Martinez, an election in Wisconsin tomorrow is the most expensive judicial race in American history. As Wisconsin public radio's Anya van Wagtingdong reports, the contest is being fueled by out-of-state billionaires. By the time I finish reading this sentence, the total tally has probably changed, so I'll just say a lot of money is funneling into Wisconsin. Like close to $100 million a lot. Donors are backing either Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, I'm Susan Crawford and looking out for people is why I became a prosecutor and a judge. Or Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel.

I'm Brad Schimel and justice is my life's work. She's liberal, he's conservative. Whoever wins will determine the ideological majority on the nonpartisan Wisconsin Supreme Court with issues like abortion, voting, and labor law at stake. They're both getting plenty of small donations, but in Wisconsin, state parties can receive unlimited donations and spend that money with no caps. And in this race, a handful of out-of-state billionaires are really taking advantage of that. Thanks for calling. What do you think of my hat? Top of that list is Elon Musk.

That's him last night at a rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin, wearing a Packers cheese head. And he spelled out what he says are the stakes when it comes to electing Schimel. I feel like this is one of those things that may not seem that it's going to affect the entire destiny of humanity, but I think it will. Musk personally gave millions to the Wisconsin Republican Party, and two of his spending groups have given at least 17 million supporting Schimel. They've produced ads arguing Schimel will support President Donald Trump's agenda. Susan Crawford, again his opponent, has argued that means Schimel is bought and sold by Musk.

He has basically taken over Brad Schimel's campaign. As for her campaign, a big spender is the liberal mega-donor George Soros. He's given two million dollars to the Wisconsin Democratic Party. So of course, Schimel has fired back that Soros, a boogeyman of the right, is controlling Crawford. He's a dangerous person to have an endorsement from. Crawford also has support from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. He's a hotel's heir who self-financed his own campaigns.

He's also given Wisconsin Democrats a million and a half dollars to support Crawford. Pritzker has supported Wisconsin politics before, like when he rallied Democrats at the state party convention in Milwaukee ahead of last year's presidential race. We will be Midwest nice to you while we Midwest beat you. Two other Illinois billionaires are looking north to Wisconsin. That's Richard and Elizabeth Uline. If you've ever seen a Uline cardboard box or truck, that's their company. All told, they've spent about $8 million supporting Schimel.

Besides being shocked at spending that much money on a Wisconsin Supreme Court race, I'm also very distressed. That's the way former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske describes watching the fundraising hit the stratosphere. She sat on the bench in the mid-90s and… My race so long ago was totally $250,000. And she says she's worried about what all this money means for judicial fairness. I think what's happening is just a nightmare and really going to the heart of our independence as that third branch of government.

Geske and other retired judges once asked the court to change its rules, to require recusal in cases involving campaign donors. The court's then conservative majority declined. They said it would chill free speech. So donors could easily see their interests go before the court. That means Crawford and Schimmel have a line to walk, each arguing that the other is beholden to special interests while accepting big checks of their own. For NPR News, I'm Anya VanWagendonk. And before we wrap up, a thank you to our NPR Plus supporters, who hear each show without sponsored messages and of course who help protect independent journalism.

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