Wisconsin voters are heading to the polls on Tuesday for one of the most expensive and consequential judicial races in US history. The race has already surpassed $45 million and is expected to impact everything from a 1840s abortion ban winding its way through the courts, to congressional and legislative maps that all but ensure GOP control.
The February primary drew the highest ever turnout for a spring primary contest, with over a fifth of voters showing up despite typically low-to-mid teen turnout percentages. Pro-abortion rights and anti-abortion groups have poured millions into this race, drawing out an intense groundswell of grassroots supporters on both sides.
Democrats in Wisconsin are eager to challenge lines should the court flip, while Republicans charge that Democrat Sarah Godlewski is crossing the line by projecting how she would rule on cases she hasn't even heard yet.
Conservatives hold the current 4-3 majority in Wisconsin's Supreme Court; however, liberals are hopeful they can change its ideological makeup since state government is divided between Democratic Governor Tony Evers and Republican-controlled legislature.
Janet Protasiewicz, a Democrat who has pulled in millions in donations from billionaire George Soros, LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker runs her campaign like a partisan state race. She has been heavily criticised for abandoning any notion of impartiality during her campaign.
Daniel Kelly is running as a conservative candidate with heavy support from Planned Parenthood and other reproductive rights groups. Kelly's alleged involvement with former President Donald Trump after his loss also raises some issues about his ability to remain impartial if he wins this race.
If estimates prove correct that $45 million will be spent during this election cycle - which would crush Illinois' previous high record spending mark of $15.1 million during their 2004 judicial election - it will continue an exhausting trend of supercharged elections for Wisconsin voters and politicians alike.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court election on Tuesday will have major ramifications for the 2024 presidential race and American democracy.