In the midst of Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race, candidate Maria Lazar’s assertions of political independence are under scrutiny due to her significant financial ties to Republican consultants. Despite her claims, Lazar’s campaign expenditures tell a different story.
Financial Ties to Republican Consultants
Maria Lazar, who serves on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, is vying to replace retiring Justice Rebecca Bradley in an April 7 election. Although the race is officially nonpartisan, Lazar is recognized as a conservative and has the support of the Wisconsin GOP. Her financial records submitted to the Wisconsin Ethics Commission reveal that she has spent nearly $225,000 on Republican consulting services.
Between 2021 and 2026, Lazar allocated $24,500 to Aspect Consulting, a firm based in Middleton, WI, known for assisting with campaign finance law compliance. Lane Ruhland, a principal at Aspect Consulting, is listed as the campaign’s point of contact. Ruhland, who has a history with the firm dating back to 2015, rejoined Aspect Consulting in 2021.
Controversial Connections
In 2020, Ruhland played a role in a controversial attempt to have rapper Kanye West appear on Wisconsin’s presidential ballot, a move orchestrated by President Donald Trump and GOP strategists to siphon votes from Democratic candidate Joe Biden. According to Vice, she was responsible for delivering necessary signatures to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, a task she ultimately did not complete on time.
Additionally, Ruhland’s background includes work for former Republican Gov. Scott Walker and prominent GOP organizations such as the Republican Party of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce.
Further Political Alliances
From 2021 to 2026, Lazar also paid $198,500 to Rally Digital, a consulting firm owned by Matt Walker, son of former Governor Scott Walker. Rally Digital specializes in digital marketing and advertising strategies. In 2019, Matt Walker considered running for Congress in Wisconsin’s fifth district as a counter to progressive voices like New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as reported by jsonline.
Claims of Political Independence
Despite these affiliations, Lazar maintains her stance on political neutrality. At a recent voter meet-and-greet, she stated, “I’ve never been a member of any political party. I’ve never put up a sign for a political party, person, done anything at all. 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.”
Lazar has also criticized her opponent, Chris Taylor, for his past as a state legislator, suggesting it could lead to bias on the bench. Her campaign has received endorsements from all Wisconsin Republicans in Congress.
