Hijacking Campaign 2023 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2023
Posted: March 10, 2023
Updated: March 25, 2024
This is a group created in 2003 by David and Charles Koch, the billionaire owners of Koch Industries and Wisconsin-based papermaker Georgia-Pacific. Americans for Prosperity first got involved in Wisconsin state politics through the medium of "issue ads" in 2006 and first reporting independent expenditures in 2018. Between 2010 and 2022 the group spent over $20.5 million on issue ads and independent expenditures combined to influence Wisconsin state elections, placing it, among the top five interest group spenders in state elections during that time period.
With less than four weeks remaining before the April 4 election for the Wisconsin State Supreme Court election, the group first reported making independent expenditures in that race. Former Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly, who was originally appointed to the court by former GOP Gov. Scott Walker, faced Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz for the 10-year seat left vacant by the retirement of conservative Justice Patience Roggensack. Conservatives had a 4-3 advantage on the high court until Roggensack's retirement.
Protasiewicz won the election.
The group's initial report shows it spent nearly $198,000 for online advertising, mailers, doorhangers and canvassing expenses to support Kelly.
Subsequenlty Americans for Prosperity spent over a further $620,000 for mailers, canvassing and online advertising in the race.
Last active election: 2022
This organization is an unregistered independent expenditure committee that is required to report any such spending done within 60 days of a primary or an election to the Wisconsin Ethics Commission per Chapter 11, Subchapter X of Wisconsin Statutes.