Madison attorney Claude Covelli quits Supreme Court race

Claude Covelli (File photo by Kevin Harnack)

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Madison attorney has dropped his bid for the late Justice Patrick Crooks’ seat on the state Supreme Court.

Claude Covelli announced Tuesday he began his campaign too late and doesn’t have time to get his message out. The primary is Feb. 16. The general election is slated for April 5.

His departure leaves Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley, 4th District Appeals Court Judge JoAnne Kloppenburg and Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Joe Donald in the running.

Crooks died in September, days after announcing he wouldn’t seek re-election. Gov. Scott Walker appointed Bradley to serve the remainder of Crooks’ term, giving her the power of incumbency heading into the election.