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Billionaires Musk and Soros push Wisconsin Supreme Court race spending over $100M

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Spending by billionaires including Elon Musk and George Soros has helped to push total spending on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race won by the Democratic-backed candidate over $100 million, the Brennan Center for Law reported Friday.

That is the most ever spent on a U.S. court race and roughly double the previous record of $51 million spent in 2023, also on a Wisconsin Supreme Court election. Both contests were for ideological control of the court in the battleground state.

For perspective, the $100 million spent on this race is roughly the same as was spent on 68 supreme court elections across 26 states in 2021 and 2022 combined, according to a Brennan Center tally.

Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford won the election Tuesday over Waukesha County Circuit Judge Brad Schimel, who had the endorsement of Musk and President Donald Trump.

Musk spent at least $3 million on the race himself and groups he funds spent nearly $19 million more, according to the Brennan Center. Democratic billionaires George Soros and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker spent a combined $3.5 million to help Crawford.

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