Wisconsin Supreme Court Candidate Maria Lazar’s Campaign Spending Raises Questions
Maria Lazar, a candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, emphasizes her political independence while her campaign expenditures tell a different story. Despite her claims, Lazar has reportedly spent nearly $225,000 on Republican consultants.
Currently serving on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, Lazar is vying for the position of retiring state Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley in an election scheduled for April 7. Although the race is nonpartisan, Lazar’s conservative stance and endorsement from the Wisconsin GOP suggest otherwise.
Financial disclosures submitted to the Wisconsin Ethics Commission reveal that Lazar allocated $24,500 to Aspect Consulting from 2021 to 2026. This Middleton-based firm specializes in aiding candidates, officeholders, and lobbyists with campaign finance compliance.
Lane Ruhland, the principal of Aspect Consulting, is listed as the point of contact for Lazar’s campaign. Ruhland’s history with Aspect Consulting dates back to 2015-2017 and resumed in 2021.
In 2020, Ruhland was implicated in an attempt to place rapper Kanye West on the presidential ballot in Wisconsin. The initiative was orchestrated by President Donald Trump and Republican operatives to siphon votes from Democratic candidate Joe Biden.
According to reports by Vice, Ruhland was responsible for submitting the signatures required for West’s candidacy to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, but she failed to meet the filing deadline.
West, an ally of Trump, has been criticized for his antisemitic statements, including those praising Adolf Hitler, as reported by NPR.
Ruhland’s past roles include positions with former Republican Gov. Scott Walker, the Republican Party of Wisconsin, and the GOP-associated Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce.
Lazar also expended $198,500 on Rally Digital between 2021 and 2026. This consulting firm, led by Matt Walker, son of the former governor, specializes in digital marketing and advertising.
In 2019, Matt Walker considered a congressional run in Wisconsin’s fifth district, aspiring to be a “counter-voice” to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
Lazar’s spending on consultants is at odds with her frequent declarations of political neutrality. At a recent voter meet-and-greet, she stated, “I’ve never been a member of any political party… I don’t think it’s appropriate. Even when I worked at the Department of Justice, I felt everyone needed to think that and know that I was fair and impartial.”
Additionally, Lazar has criticized her opponent, Chris Taylor, for his tenure as a state legislator, suggesting it could compromise his judicial impartiality.
Lazar’s campaign has secured endorsements from all Republican members of Congress in Wisconsin.
—
Read More Kitchen Table News
