Hijacking Campaign 2025 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2025
Posted: March 14, 2025
Updated: March 21, 2025
This federal political action committee (PAC) is used by the National Rifle Association (NRA), the nation’s largest and most controversial pro-gun group, to make independent expenditures that generally support Republican and conservative candidates in Wisconsin state elections. Between 2010 and 2024, the NRA, using several different committees, including this one, made more than $5 million in independent expenditures in Wisconsin state-level elections.
With just less than three weeks remaining until the April st spring elections, the NRA reported spending about $1,575 for campaign literature to support Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel for an open seat on the Wisconsin State Supreme Court. Although the court is officially nonpartisan, Schimel, who previously held posts as district attorney and state attorney general as a Republican, is backed by the state GOP and his opponent, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford, by Democrats. Liberals won a 4-3 majority on the court in 2023; the election of Schimel hands control back to conservatives.
Twelve days from the election, the NRA reported spending about $86,400 to send endorsement cards and texts supporting Schimel.
Last active election: 2024
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.