Updated: July 22, 2011
Shirley S. Abrahamson /profile2008/faces/abrahamson.jpg) Wisconsin State Supreme Court
2009 Election Notes and Background
Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1976 by Democratic governor Patrick Lucey. She was first elected in 1979 and subsequently re-elected every ten years since. (For more, see Judgepedia biography.)
She was challenged in the election by Jefferson County Circuit Court judge Randy Koschnick.
Kenosha Education Assocation ($43), MTI Voters ($224), and Planned Parenthood Advocates ($11,863) made independent expenditures favoring Abrahamson. Randall Melchert ($153), a primary candidate for the Wisconsin Assembly in 2008, supported her opponent.
Advancing Wisconsin (est. $100,000) and Greater Wisconsin Committee (est. $465,000) spent undisclosed amounts on "issue ads" supporting Justice Abrahamson.
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2009 Campaign Finance Summary
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Abrahamson
Raised: $1,469,621 - Spent: $1,465,578
Vote: 59.7% - Cost/Vote: $3.09
Independent Backing: $12,130
Issue Ads: $565,000 |
Koschnick
Raised: $186,556 - Spent: $189,153
Vote: 40.3% - Cost/Vote: $0.59
Independent Backing: $153
Issue Ads: $0 |
Where did the money come from?*
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Cash on hand 1/1/08* |
$0 |
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Self |
$98,923 |
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Under $100 |
$135,464 |
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$100 or more |
$1,113,789 |
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PACs & Parties |
$104,027 |
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Other Income |
$17,419 |
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WECF** |
$0 |
*No financial activity before 2008.
**voluntary spending limit system. |
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Interest Group Contributions from
Individuals and Committees*
1/1/08-6/30/09**
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Interest |
Amount |
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Lawyers/Law Firms/Lobbyists |
$459,694.96 |
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Retired/Homemakers/Non-income earners |
$112,042.04 |
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Labor Unions |
$105,838.61 |
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Education |
$98,020.00 |
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Civil servant/public employee |
$66,711.42 |
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Business |
$51,331.47 |
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Health Professionals |
$50,651.30 |
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Real Estate |
$36,830.00 |
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Banking & Finance |
$31,820.00 |
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Construction |
$31,455.28 |
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Health Services/Institutions |
$28,395.11 |
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Manufacturing & Distributing |
$21,575.00 |
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Telecommunications & Computers |
$20,185.00 |
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Tourism/Leisure/Entertainment |
$17,410.02 |
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Non-Profit/Social Services |
$16,925.00 |
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Political/Ideological |
$14,911.87 |
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Energy |
$9,875.00 |
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Natural Resources |
$8,100.00 |
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Unknown |
$7,400.00 |
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Transportation |
$6,500.00 |
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Insurance |
$5,500.00 |
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Agriculture |
$4,894.00 |
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Defense |
$300.00 |
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Road Construction |
$300.00 |
*Excludes any returned and self contributions.
**Ten year election cycle but no financial activity before 2008. |
Top Contributors
7/1/89-6/30/09*
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Contributor |
City |
Business |
Amount |
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Abrahamson, Shirley & Seymour |
Madison, WI |
University of Wisconsin |
$219,931 |
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Quadracci, Harry & Betty |
Milwaukee, WI |
Quad-Graphics Inc |
$20,000 |
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Brogan Family |
Kaukauna, WI |
Bank of Kaukauna |
$16,300 |
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Herzing, Suzanne & Stacey |
Milwaukee, WI |
Herzing College |
$12,500 |
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Faulkner, Gordon & Judith |
Madison, WI |
Epic Systems |
$12,000 |
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Thomsen, Mark & Grace |
Milwaukee, WI |
Cannon & Dunphy |
$11,750 |
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Eisenberg, Alvin H |
Milwaukee, WI |
Eisenberg, Weigel, et al |
$11,000 |
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Erdman, Timothy & Mary Phillips |
Madison, WI |
Marshall Erdman & Associates |
$10,750 |
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Boyd, William & Karen Johnson |
Racine, WI |
Perimeter Gallery |
$8,275 |
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OConnor, John & Sheila |
Kenosha, WI |
OConnor & Williams |
$7,784 |
*Financial activity from the end of the 1989 and through the end of the 2009 election cycles.
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