The Democrat-backed nominee in the crucial Wisconsin Supreme Court contest has raised more than five times the money of her Republican-backed opponent ahead of the April 4 election.
Milwaukee County Liberal District Judge Janet Protasiewicz raised nearly $12.4 million in the most recent reporting period for campaign funding between Feb. 7 and March 20, according to reports filed late Monday. Her conservative opponent, former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly, raised $2.2 million during the same period.
The winner of the country’s costliest Supreme Court race to date will determine majority control of Wisconsin’s High Court, with issues such as access to abortion, redistribution of laws, union rights and electoral laws at stake. The race has garnered national attention given Wisconsin’s importance as a presidential swing state.
GEORGE SOROS WRITES $1 MILLION TO WISCONSIN DEMOCRATS BEFORE THE STATE SUPERCOURT ELECTION
The state Supreme Court nearly overturned President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory. The Conservatives have controlled the court for 15 years, but the winner will determine majority control for at least the next two years, including before and immediately after the 2024 presidential campaign.
Since launching her campaigns, Protasiewicz has raised $14.5 million, including more than $8.8 million from the state’s Democratic Party. Kelly has raised more than $2.7 million. He received nearly half a million dollars in donations in kind from the state Republican Party and nearly $50,000 in donations from the county Republican parties and the campaign committee of the Republican Convention.
Protasiewicz’s fundraising advantage allowed her to run television commercials weeks before Kelly and his conservative supporters could counterattack. As of March 22, her campaign had purchased or reserved more than $10.1 million worth of ads, while Kelly had spent about $460,000, according to a tally by the Brennan Center for Justice.
Wisconsin Supreme Court nominee Janet Protasiewicz has reportedly outbid Conservative opponent Dan Kelly by over $10 million with the help of Democratic mega-donors including George Soros and billionaire Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, file)
During the most recent six-week reporting period, Protasiewicz spent more than $8.3 million on ads, compared to approximately $364,000 at Kelly. Third-party groups have helped Kelly close the gap, but Protasiewicz’s side had still spent more on TV and radio advertising, based on figures from the Brennan Center and others.
All of the expenses, estimated at more than $30 million and rising, have made the race the costliest for a court seat in US history. The previous record high was $15.4 million spent on a 2004 Illinois Supreme Court race.
Protasiewicz has made her support for abortion rights a central focus of her ads and campaign. She has also attacked Kelly for his past work for Republicans and Wisconsin Right to Life, an anti-abortion group.
Kelly has attempted to portray Protasiewicz as having a low crime streak, citing numerous instances in which he claims she has given soft sentences to criminals – some of whom later re-offended.
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT NOMINATE HAS PAROLE TO A DOMESTIC TAILOR WHO LATER KILLED TWO PEOPLE AND BURNED BODY
Protasiewicz reported 28 donors giving the maximum allowable amount of $20,000 in the last reporting period, including Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. Billionaire financier George Soros donated $1 million to the state’s Democratic Party. Both donations came the day after elementary school on February 21st. Only three of their maximum donors were from Wisconsin, including former Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig.
The number of out-of-state donations points to the national spotlight of this race, which has become a frontline battle for abortion access. The Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to rule on a pending lawsuit challenging the state’s 1849 near-total abortion ban.
Kelly reported 19 donations totaling $20,000 during that period, including from Beloit billionaire and GOP mega-donor Diane Hendricks. Unlike his opponent, all but three of his top donors were from Wisconsin.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Protasiewicz ended the period with just over $2 million in cash compared to about $395,000 for Kelly.
Source : www.foxnews.com