Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Maria Lazar, who has repeatedly said she is politically independent and “has never been a member of any political party,” has received endorsements from several Republican members of Congress.
According to a campaign announcement released by Tom Tiffany, Lazar received an endorsement from Tiffany and his fellow Republican members of Congress, Bryan Steil, Derrick Van Orden, Scott Fitzgerald, Glenn Grothman, and Tony Wied.
The endorsements come as Lazar has emphasized throughout the campaign that she is not affiliated with either political party. In a recent interview with PBS Wisconsin, Lazar reiterated that she has “never been a member of a political party,” while also acknowledging that political parties and outside groups could donate to her campaign.
Coverage of the race has highlighted growing scrutiny of Lazar’s political ties. Chief Justice Jill Karofsky said in a recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article which examined the broader political dynamics surrounding Lazar’s campaign and the high-stakes Wisconsin Supreme Court race, “What I have seen of Judge Lazar is that she talks about being independent, and yet the work I saw her do at the Wisconsin Department of Justice was to really – in a couple of very stark examples – be the person who was carrying the flag of the right-wing interests.”
“Wisconsin voters deserve transparency in a race that will help determine the future of issues like reproductive rights, election law, and legislative maps,” said Tiffiany Vaughn, a spokesperson at American Bridge 21st Century. “When a candidate claims independence while being embraced by Republican members of Congress and builds a conservative political infrastructure, it raises serious questions about how independent Lazar really is.”
With the Wisconsin Supreme Court expected to decide cases involving abortion rights, election law, and legislative maps, Lazar needs ot be honest with Wisconsin voters. Her claims of independence and the Republican political support surrounding her campaign are likely to face increasing scrutiny as the race unfolds.
For more background on Maria Lazar, please visit Research Books.
