In October 2016, the day after the release of the “Access Hollywood” recording in which Donald J. Trump bragged about sexually assaulting women, Wisconsin Republicans held a rally in the small town of Elkhorn.
As the state’s top Republicans spoke at the event, they distanced themselves from Mr. Trump. Paul D. Ryan, then the House speaker, said he was “sickened.” Gov. Scott Walker declared that Mr. Trump’s remarks were “inexcusable.” Senator Ron Johnson called them “indefensible.”
Just one Republican took the stage, framed by haystacks and pumpkins, and came to Mr. Trump’s defense: Brad Schimel, then the state’s attorney general and now a Waukesha County judge who is running in a high-profile, expensive race for control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
“I know that Donald Trump has said some things that are bad,” Judge Schimel said as a voice in the crowd cried out, “Get over it!” He added: “I’m the father of two daughters. My daughters look up to me, and I don’t like hearing anyone talk that way about women. But Donald Trump will appoint judges who will defend our Constitution and respect our Constitution.”
Now, as Judge Schimel aims to return a conservative majority to the court after Wisconsin liberals flipped it in 2023, he is hoping to sustain the pro-Trump energy that helped the president carry the battleground state last fall.
Following a path blazed by Wisconsin Democrats, who successfully injected national politics into the State Supreme Court election two years ago, Judge Schimel is campaigning for the ostensibly nonpartisan post in an openly partisan way — as an outspoken supporter of Mr. Trump.
Judge Schimel has echoed Mr. Trump’s lies about elections, attended his campaign rallies and walked door to door to encourage voters to back him in the April 1 election. Last fall, Judge Schimel wore a Trump-as-garbage-man costume while shaking what appeared to be a pair of maracas and playing bass guitar at a Halloween party, an episode captured on a video obtained by The New York Times. And this month, he told supporters that he wanted to help build “a support network” around Mr. Trump.
“They’re so desperate for him to not get a win that they won’t let America have a win,” Judge Schimel said at an event hosted by the conservative group Turning Point Action, referring to Democrats and other Trump opponents. “That’s what they’re doing. The only way we’re going to stop that is if the courts stop it.”…