http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/laura/92million-judge-s433.pngThat money could have changed lives — instead, it was wasted buying power.

LAKE GENEVA, WI - In 2025, Wisconsin’s Supreme Court election wasn’t just ugly — it was obscene. A jaw-dropping $92.1 million was spent fighting over one seat on our state’s highest court. Not to improve justice. Not to serve the people. But to weaponize the court and turn it into a political pawn.

This election wasn’t really about Wisconsin at all. It became a national proxy war, a playground for billionaires, political machines, and out-of-state interests looking to buy influence. And they did it on our backs.

Who Paid to Control Wisconsin’s Court

The money poured in from every corner of the country:

On Brad Schimel’s side:

• Elon Musk’s political network: $12.5 million, including a shameful $1 million “voter lottery” scheme meant to bribe voters.
• Richard & Elizabeth Uihlein: $8 million — Illinois billionaires bankrolling far-right causes.
• Judicial Fairness Network & Wisconsin Liberty Alliance: $16.4 million from corporate PACs.
• Schimel’s campaign fund: $8.2 million.

Total pro-Schimel spending: $45.1 million

On Susan Crawford’s side:

• George Soros-backed PACs: $9.3 million — more out-of-state billionaire influence.
• Governor J.B. Pritzker’s network: $6.5 million — more Illinois money meddling in our court.
• AFSCME & NEA unions: $10.7 million — unions buying their seat at the table.
• National Democratic PACs: $11.9 million from Washington, D.C. Super PACs.
• Crawford’s campaign fund: $6.5 million.

Total pro-Crawford spending: $44.9 million

When you tally it all up, it’s clear this wasn’t a Wisconsin race. It was an all-out bidding war — and Wisconsin voters were caught in the crossfire.

How the Money Was Wasted

Here’s where that $92 million really went:

• $14.7 million in official campaign funds.
• $36.2 million from conservative PACs & billionaires.
• $25.9 million from liberal PACs, unions, and mega-donors.
• $3 million on Musk’s unethical voter lottery scheme.
• $52.4 million on ugly, mudslinging attack ads.
• $8.6 million on voter outreach.
• $1.3 million on legal fees and compliance.

The money was almost evenly split, but that’s not the outrage. The outrage is that it was spent at all.

What Wisconsin Could Have Done With $92 Million

Just imagine if that money hadn’t been torched in a political arms race. It could’ve:

• Paid full tuition for 9,200 in-state college students.
• Replaced every lead water pipe in Milwaukee’s poorest neighborhoods.
• Fully funded free school lunches across Wisconsin for two years.
• Opened five new mental health clinics in rural Wisconsin.
• Expanded Medicaid to cover 40,000 uninsured Wisconsinites.
• Or simply refunded $16 to every person in Wisconsin.

But instead, it was vaporized — spent on ads, attack pieces, and dirty tricks.

Why Every American Should Be Furious

This isn’t just a Wisconsin problem. When nearly $100 million floods into a judicial race, democracy doesn’t stand a chance. The courts become a marketplace, and justice is sold to the highest bidder.

This isn’t free speech. It’s legalized corruption.

There Should Be a Law

I don’t care if you’re a Democrat, Republican, or Independent — every American should be outraged. There should be strict laws banning this level of political spending in judicial elections. No billionaire, no union, no corporate PAC should have the power to buy judges.

Because when justice is for sale, democracy dies a little more every day.