Ad wars begin in closely watched Wisconsin Supreme Court race

Ad wars in the hotly contested race for control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court are beginning. Republican-backed candidate Brad Schimel is launching a $1.1 million television ad buy statewide on Tuesday. It marks the first spending on TV ads in the closely watched race in the presidential swing state. Schimel is a Waukesha County judge who faces Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford in the race for an open seat on the state’s highest court. The election is April 1. If Crawford wins, liberals will maintain their 4-3 majority on the court until at least 2028. If Schimel wins, conservatives will win back the majority they lost in 2023.