A family feud is brewing in Wisconsin as a Milwaukee beer dynasty finds itself split over which candidate to back in a high-stakes Supreme Court race that will determine the trajectory of state politics for a decade to come.
The Uihlein family's deep Wisconsin roots trace back to 1875, when Joseph Schlitz, the owner of a brewing company, died after his ship was wrecked off the coast of Italy. Control of the company passed to four Uihlein brothers, who built one of America's most successful beer brands and put Brew City on the beer map.
JANET PROTASIEWICZ AND DANIEL KELLY ADVANCE IN HIGH-STAKES BATTLE FOR WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT SEAT
Since then, the megawealthy Uihlein family has diversified its portfolio, banking big bucks and leveraging its wealth into political power.
Billionaires Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein, who own Uline, a Wisconsin-based shipping supplies company, are going all in for conservative candidate Daniel Kelly, while their cousin, Lynde Bradley Uihlein, who often gives to progressive causes, will throw her weight behind Judge Janet Protasiewicz in an epic April 4 showdown.
Protasiewicz and Kelly advanced to the general election after beating challengers Everett Mitchell, a Dane County Circuit Court judge, and Jennifer Dorrow, a Waukesha County judge, in Tuesday's primary race. Protasiewicz netted 46% of the vote, while Kelly finished in second place with 24%. Darrow came in third with 22%, followed by Mitchell with 7%.
The April faceoff is gearing up to be one of the most expensive state Supreme Court races in U.S. history, with the winner deciding on everything from a woman's right to choose to the 2024 presidential election.
With so much on the line, money is flooding in from outside special interest groups and megadonors like the Uihlein family.
If Protasiewicz wins, it would tip the balance of power of the state's seven-member high court, which has been controlled by conservatives since 2008.
"Everything we care about is going to be determined by who wins this election," she said in a victory speech Tuesday night.
If Kelly wins, abortion will almost assuredly continue to be illegal in Wisconsin, and a redistricting map that heavily favors Republicans will likely stay in place.
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Wisconsin was heralded for its stringent campaign finance laws that clamped down on conflicts of interest and demanded transparency. That was tossed out the window following a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision that lifted laws on independent expenditures by corporations. In 2015, Wisconsin's GOP-led legislature eased the limit on personal donations to political parties. What resulted was a mad dash by corporations, special interest groups, and very wealthy people to exert their influence on races.
Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein are among the top five biggest GOP donors in the country, spending more than $230 million on federal races. They've opened their wallets to Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), a close friend of former President Donald Trump, who won his race against Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes in part by tying him to some of the most controversial positions of the Black Lives Matter movement.
The Midwest power couple also backed Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who was stripped of her committee assignments for making antisemitic comments and advocating violence against then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (R-CA). Current House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) appointed Greene to powerful committees when he won the speakership in January.
In the state Supreme Court race, Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein have already dipped into their personal piggy bank to give Kelly $40,000 ($20,000 is the most one donor can give) while also spending $2 million more through super PAC Fair Courts America, which was created in 2020 with a mission of taking down the "woke mob" by electing conservative candidates.
Cousin Lynde Bradley Uihlein has taken a hard left turn from her family's conservative policies and put $20,000 of her own money into Protasiewicz's coffers.
She founded the Brico Fund in 1990, which provides grant money to progressive causes with a focus on the environment and women's health issues. In 2022, she gave $300,000 to the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, up from the $200,000 she gave the party for the 2020 election cycle. In 2007, she became the first Wisconsin donor to give $1 million to 527 groups in one election cycle, which included $370,000 to the Progressive Majority, $250,000 to the League of Conservation Voters, $250,000 to America Votes 2006, and $138,000 to the Greater Wisconsin Political Fund.
Despite the Uihlein family's cash injection into the race, they are hardly alone. The spending record in a Wisconsin Supreme Court race is $10 million, set in 2020. Candidates and outside spending groups pledged a minimum of $9.2 million before the two front-runners were even elected, according to AdImpact Politics.
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The group tweeted Wednesday: "We're already seeing general election spending for the Wisconsin Supreme Court! Better Wisconsin Together has reserved $500K and Janet Protasiewicz has reserved $135K thus far. Ads for both advertisers begin tomorrow. Election day is 4/1."