MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Billionaire megadonors are opening their wallets to influence the high-stakes race for control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
The winner of the April 1 election will determine whether the court in battleground Wisconsin remains under liberal control or flips to a conservative majority. Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford faces Waukesha County Circuit Judge Brad Schimel.
Democratic philanthropist George Soros gave $1 million to the Wisconsin Democratic Party, which turned around and gave Crawford $2 million. Billionaire businesswoman Diane Hendricks gave the Wisconsin Republican Party nearly $1 million, which in turn has given Schimel nearly $1.7 million.
The race is officially nonpartisan, but these donations demonstrate how partisan the race cane be.