Schimel said he will not be influenced by the big money donations. Crawford has made similar pledges of independence.

Democratic money helped elect a liberal to the state Supreme Court, swinging it to the left. Now, Elon Musk and other wealthy donors have given Republicans a chance to swing it back.

Wisconsin’s Supreme Court election this spring will decide just one seat, but the contest already is shaping up as one of the most costly and contentious battles of the new year – with the control of the seven-member court and the fate of a 19th century abortion ban hanging in the balance.

Wisconsin voters will decide a crucial state Supreme Court race on April 1, a contest that could shift the ideological balance of the court. The election, the first major battleground test since the 2024 presidential race, has drawn millions in donations from both parties, with abortion rights, union laws, and congressional maps at stake.