Megadonors who are worth billions of dollars are putting their money on the line to influence the 2025 high-stakes race to control the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The winner of the election held on April 1, will determine whether the court stays under liberal control, or flips over to a majority of conservatives.

Megadonors who are worth billions of dollars are opening their wallets in order to influence the high stakes race for control over the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

The election on April 1, between Dane County circuit judge Susan Crawford and Waukesha County circuit judge Brad Schimel, will determine if the court in Wisconsin’s battleground state will remain liberal or switch to a conservative majority.

The 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election, which also aimed to control the court’s ideology, was the most costly judicial race ever held in the United States. The 2025 race will be more expensive, and Elon Musk has already attracted national attention as a multi-billionaire who is also a Trump loyalist.

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As the latest campaign finance reports filed by mid-February demonstrate, this race is a nonpartisan one in name. Several of the nation’s biggest political donors are involved.

In January, Democratic philanthropist George Soros donated $1 million to Wisconsin’s Democratic Party. Other large donors included Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who donated $500,000, Milwaukee philanthropist Lyndeuihlein, $490,000. Gloria Page, mother of Google founder Larry Page and LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman, both at $250,000.

The Democratic Party transferred $2 million to Crawford’s campaign after these donations. The Democratic Party had previously given Crawford $1 million.

Schimel’s Campaign said, “Susan Crawford would be George Soros’ perfect investment,” in a press release on February 11. “On Wisconsin Supreme Court, Susan Crawford is adamant about her agenda. Soros buys into it.”

Diane Hendricks, a billionaire Wisconsin businesswoman, gave $970,000 to the Wisconsin GOP in January. She is the owner of ABC Supply in Beloit. Liz Uihlein is the president of Uline, a shipping and packaging company. She donated $650,000 to the party, and Joe Ricketts founded Ameritrade, and is co-owner of Chicago Cubs. He gave $500,000.

Wisconsin Republican Party immediately transferred Schimel’s campaign nearly $1.7 Million after receiving the contributions. Hendricks gave Schimel’s campaign the maximum donation of $20,000 as well.

Wisconsin law limits individual contributions to Supreme Court candidates to $20,000 per person. Political parties, however, can accept unlimited donations. They can then pass them on to candidates.

Haley McCoy is a spokesperson for the Wisconsin Democratic Party. She accused Schimel “begging at radical right-wing millionaires’ feet.”

Schimel raised $5.1million since he began his campaign in December 2023. This includes the almost $1.7million from the Republican Party. Crawford has raised over $7.7million since June when she entered the race, including $3 million by the Democratic Party of the State.

In recent years, the Wisconsin Supreme Court was at the heart of many of the state’s biggest battles. This included the outcome of 2020 presidential elections and legislative redistricting.

The court is currently hearing cases affecting abortion rights as well as the fate of an anti-union law from 2011. Other battles are looming over reproductive rights laws, election laws, and congressional redistricting.