Anti-abortion mega-donors pour money into Alabama supreme court race | First Thing

Organization affiliated with Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein spends more than half a million dollars on candidate who believes life begins at fertilization. Plus, Michigan anti-war campaign hails huge vote tally

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Good morning.

A group connected to anti-abortion billionaire Trump mega-donors has funneled more than half a million dollars to an Alabama supreme court judicial candidate who said embryos were human beings whose lives begin at fertilization".

Who is funding the candidate? The group funding Bryan Taylor, Fair Courts America, is connected to the anti-abortion mega-donors Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein. Fair Courts America represents the only outside group donating in Alabama's upcoming primary race for supreme court chief justice, scheduled to take place next week.

What else is happening? An Illinois state judge on Wednesday barred Trump from appearing on the Illinois Republican presidential primary ballot because of his role in the attack at the US Capitol on January 6, but she delayed her ruling from taking effect in light of an expected appeal.