MILWAUKEE – Waukesha County Circuit Judge Brad Schimel, who is seeking election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, will be the guest speaker at a Newsmaker luncheon set for Tuesday, March 18, hosted by the Milwaukee Press Club, WisPolitics.com and the Rotary Club of Milwaukee.
The luncheon featuring Schimel will run from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center, 750 N Lincoln Memorial Drive.
Schimel’s opponent, Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford, also is scheduled to speak at a Newsmaker Luncheon hosted by the three organizations. That event is set for Tuesday, March 4.
Schimel, who is favored by conservatives, and Crawford, favored by liberals, are vying for an open seat in the April 1 election that will determine ideological control of the seven-member court. The vacancy was created when liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, the court’s longest-serving member, announced she would not seek another term.
Although seats on the Wisconsin Supreme Court are nonpartisan, the ad wars are well underway among partisan interests and donors. Schimel, a former Republican Wisconsin attorney general and Waukesha County district attorney, has strong Republican support; Crawford has been endorsed by the Wisconsin Democratic Party.
The race also has drawn wide national attention, identified by The Hill as one of five to watch nationwide. Total spending is expected to exceed the $51 million plus spent in 2023 when now-Justice Janet Protasiewicz won a vacant seat and flipped the court to a liberal majority for the first time in 15 years.
Schimel will take questions from a panel of journalists and from the audience at the luncheon.
The media panel:
Charles Benson – TMJ4 News
Alison Dirr – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Matt Smith – WISN 12 NewsThe Milwaukee Press Club’s Newsmaker Lunch Hour series is underwritten by presenting sponsor Spectrum News 1 and supporting sponsor We Energies.
WisPolitics.com partners with the press club as part of its ongoing event series in Milwaukee, sponsored by UW-Milwaukee, Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association, Medical College of Wisconsin, Commercial Association of REALTORS and Spectrum.
The press club’s Newsmaker Luncheons are held to inform the public about the people and issues that affect individuals and communities in Milwaukee and Wisconsin. The cost to attend is $30 for MPC members, $35 for non-members and $25 for students. Lunch is included. Registration deadline is Thursday, March 13. Seating is limited. Advanced registration and payment are required and may be done online at http://www.milwaukeepressclub.org/.
Please contact Lexie Deblitz at the Milwaukee Press Club at lexie@milwaukeepressclub.org with any questions.
