The state Supreme Court election Tuesday has raised the stakes for future campaign donors and outside groups to contribute funds as the pattern of increased spending on elections continues.
Incumbent Rebecca Bradley scored a major victory, racking up 52.3 percent of the vote compared to challenger JoAnne Kloppenburg, who received 47.7 percent in the statewide election.
Bradley not only won a majority of the vote, but also dominated campaign spending from outside political groups. One of these groups is the Wisconsin Alliance for Reform, a conservative organization that spent an estimated $1.85 million on television ads, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Two of the advertisements praised Bradley and three attacked Kloppenburg for her previous decisions as an appellate judge.
The Greater Wisconsin Committee, a nonprofit organization, spent $381,360 on television ads and $107,323 on other advertising in support of the Kloppenburg campaign.
Overall, outside groups that support Bradley spent approximately $2,714,000, while other groups promoting Kloppenburg spent around $710,000, according to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. These numbers put Bradley ahead of her challenger by almost four to one.
Also, five years ago when Kloppenburg faced off against David Prosser in the Spring 2011 Supreme Court election, conservative groups outspent liberal pro-Kloppenburg donors as well.
As part of the April 5 election, some Wisconsin voters also had the opportunity to voice their opinions on money in politics. The results of the referendum completed in 11 towns across the state show overwhelming support for overturning Citizens United, the Supreme Court decision that has paved the way for corporations, unions and other associations to give unlimited campaign contributions through designated Political Action Committees.
The average support for overturning the ruling was between 74 and 88 percent of voters, according to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
