Far-right justice's shocking campaign haul fuels rumors of looming exit

A notorious far-right state Supreme Court justice raised $0 in her latest fundraising haul — adding fuel to the rumors she may be planning to retire, reported Associated Press Wisconsin statehouse reporter Scott Bauer.

"Conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley, who is up for reelection in April, raised no money for a reelection bid through the end of June, according to a report her campaign filed with the state today," wrote Bauer. At the same time, he noted, one of her key liberal rivals, Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge Chris Taylor, raised $583,000.

"The last time Bradley reported raising any money at all was in 2022 when she reported collecting $700. This year's Wisconsin Supreme Court race broke national records for spending on judicial races, with more than $100 million spent by the candidates and others," wrote Bauer. "Bradley has not officially said whether she is running again, although she told WisPolitics in April that she planned to run again. This new filing showing no fundraising or spending will only fuel speculation that Bradley may not be running again."

In response to the news, Taylor's campaign stated, "Judge Taylor is breaking fundraising records and receiving support from every corner of the state ... Rebecca Bradley is apparently sitting back and hoping far-right billionaires and special interests flood the state with campaign cash."

This comes a month after conservative Milwaukee talk radio host Mark Belling sounded the alarm that Bradley could be on the brink of retiring.

Bradley, one of the court's most outspoken defenders of right-wing causes, has been known to bitterly attack fellow judges she disagrees with, calling this year's judicial election, which saw Judge Susan Crawford hold the seat for liberals, "disgusting."

Liberals and Democratic interests managed to elect a majority on the officially nonpartisan state Supreme Court, long dominated by right-wing interests, in 2023. Since then, the court has issued rulings unwinding GOP legislative gerrymanders and protecting abortion rights.