State Supreme Court race sets record for spending

MADISON, Wis. (Civic Media) – The race for Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2023 has set a record for spending.

According to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, an organization that tracks campaign spending, the hotly-contested race saw spending reach more than $42.3 million through Monday morning.

The most recent spending figures available showed Janet Protasiewicz spending $12.2 million, while Dan Kelly has spent more than $2.2 million. Groups backing Kelly have spent $15.37 million while groups supporting Protasiewicz have spent $11.32 million. Over four dozen groups, 55 in total, have spent a total of $27.14 million on the election.

The release from the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign said that the top groups supporting Kelly were Fair Courts America, spending an estimated $5.32 million, and Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, spending an estimated $5.2 million. Both groups spent money mostly on broadcast advertising. The top spending group backing Protasiewicz was A Better Wisconsin Together Political Fund, which spent an estimated $6.2 million on advertising.

The winner of Tuesday’s election will serve a 10-year term on the state’s Supreme Court beginning in August, replacing retiring Justice Pat Roggensack.