Traditionally, trial lawyers contribute money to judicial candidates who are sympathetic to plaintiffs.

The statement above is TRUE.
Judicial campaigns usually take place in order to select the right candidates to rule in the courts. These days, such campaigns are usually funded by interest groups to ensure that a particular candidate is selected. For instance, conservative organisations usually support judges that will make decisions that support their social cause. So also, trial lawyers usually fund campaigns in order to ensure that they protect judges that are sympathetic to victims.