Hijacking Campaign 2018 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2018
Posted: March 7, 2018
Updated: June 25, 2021
Fall: Oath • Spending
Special: Oath • Spending
Spring: Oath • Spending
This Washington D.C. group supports Democratic candidates for federal and state offices. In Wisconsin, the group sponsors disclosed independent expenditures through a Super-PAC that must file reports with the state about how much it spends on its electioneering activities.
For Our Future was formed in 2016 by billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer and national labor groups. The group spent about $128,000 during Wisconsin's 2016 fall elections elections to back Democrats and oppose Republicans in eight legislative races.
In 2018 the organization was involved in the fall, June special and spring supreme court elections.
Fall
Toward the end of June the group first reported spending on brochures and website development as part of its campaign against the fall reelection of incumbent Republican Governor Scott Walker. At the beginning of July it reported another $22,000 on canvassing activities. At this point the identity of Walker's Democratic opponent was yet to be determined as the primary election was on August 14.
By the end of August it had reported spending over $58,000 in various campaign activities in opposition to the governor.
About a week after Labor Day it first reported spending on behalf of Democrats in five state senate races. By the end of September it expanded its activity to include support for Josh Kaul, the Democratic challenger in the attorney general's race.
By the time the election was done For Our Future reported spending a total of about $115,000 in five senate races - the 1st, 5th, 17th, 19th and 23rd.
Another organization founded by Steyer, NextGen Climate Action Committee, was active in Wisconsin's fall 2018 elections.
Special
About a month before the special election in June to fill a vacancy in the 1st Senate District, the group first reported spending on behalf of the Democratic candidate and just before the Memorial Holiday weekend it reported spending in suppport of the Democratic candidate in the 42nd Assembly District special election held at the same time.
Spring
The group first filed paperwork in late February showing spending on canvassing and online advertising to support Rebecca Dallet in the April 3 spring election to fill an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Dallet, a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge, defeated Sauk County Circuit Judge Michael Screnock. Even though the Supreme Court election is officially a nonpartisan contest, Dallet drew support from Democrats and Screnock from GOP donors and the state Republican Party.
Last active election: 2016
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.