Supreme Court justice comes in third in campaign fundraising (UPDATE)

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By TODD RICHMOND
Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley’s two rivals have raised more campaign cash and began the new year with more money on hand, a campaign finance report released Friday shows.

Bradley’s campaign released a cover sheet showing she raised $229,870 in 2015, with $228,320 coming during the second half of the year. In a news release, her campaign said she raised her second-half money in three months, with $102,500 coming through loans. She had about $176,260 on hand and had spent about $54,350 during the year.

Bradley faces JoAnne Kloppenburg, a state appellate judge, and Joe Donald, a Milwaukee County Circuit judge, in a Feb. 16 primary. The top two-voter getters will advance to the April 5 general election.

Kloppenburg’s campaign said earlier this week that she raised about $278,000 last year and had $232,000 on hand. Donald’s campaign reported raising almost $251,000 with nearly $196,000 on hand.

Republican Gov. Scott Walker appointed Bradley to fill Crooks’ seat in October, making her the incumbent going into the elections. Neither Kloppenburg nor Donald applied for the vacancy.

Bradley campaign spokeswoman Madison Wiberg said in an email that Bradley didn’t announce she was running for Crooks’ seat until September, months after Kloppenburg and Donald entered the race. Despite her late entry, Bradley outpaced Donald’s fundraising during the last half of the year. Donald raised $141,000 in during the last six months, compared with Bradley’s $228,320.

Friday was the deadline for filing campaign finance reports detailing 2015 activity with the state Government Accountability Board.

The three candidates are vying for the late Justice Patrick Crooks’ seat on the high court. Crooks died in his chambers in September at age 77, days after announcing he would not seek re-election.

Republican Gov. Scott Walker appointed Bradley to fill Crooks’ seat in October, making her the incumbent going into the elections. Neither Kloppenburg nor Donald applied for the vacancy.

The appointment marked the third time the governor had tapped Bradley for a judicial position. He appointed her to the Milwaukee County circuit court in 2012. She won election the following year. Last May, he named her to the state appeals court.