Crawford, Schimel square off in only debate as record-breaking spending impacts Wisconsin Supreme Court race

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- On Wednesday night, March 12, the two candidates for Wisconsin's Supreme Court seat squared off in what will be their only debate before the April 1 election.

Dane County judge Susan Crawford, the liberal candidate, and Waukesha County judge Brad Schimel, the conservative candidate, debated for one hour at Marquette University's Lubar Center.

The race is in the national spotlight, much like the State supreme Court race two years ago.

The phrase said early and often throughout the debate was "so much is at stake."

The debate touched on a host of topics: the future of abortion rights in Wisconsin, the attack ads running on tv and radio, congressional maps, and transgender athletes in sports.

But money dominated the discussion throughout.

A record $59 million has been poured into this race from around the country.

Both candidates have benefitted from millions of dollars of donations from billionaires. Contributions from George Soros have benefited Susan Crawford. Elon Musk is among those contributing to Brad Schimel.

Crawford again directly accused Schimel of being influenced by Musk's money, saying, "This is unprecedented to see this kind of spending on a race. And it is no coincidence that Elon Musk started spending that money within days of Tesla filing a lawsuit in Wisconsin. He's trying to buy access and influence by buying himself a justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court."

When Schimel was pressed on that lawsuit and Musk's contributions to his campaign, he said he cannot control who contributes. Crawford used the same defense when pressed on her donors.

When speaking about the Tesla lawsuit, Schimel said Musk may be out of luck.

"That's a law passed by the legislature, it's entitled to a presumption of constitutionality. So, if Elon Musk is trying to get some result in that lawsuit, he may be failing because I enforce the law, and I respect the laws passed by the legislature. That's a law in Wisconsin."

Crawford spoke to reporters after the debate. She was flanked by all four of the Court's liberal justices, including retiring justice Ann Walsh Bradley, whom Crawford is seeking to replace.

Schimel did not speak after the debate, but two surrogates did. One was current conservative justice Rebecca Grassl Bradley.