Hijacking Campaign 2018 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2018
Posted: October 4, 2018
Updated: June 25, 2021
This is a Brookfield-based organization that first surfaced in the 2010 fall elections and supports Republican legislative candidates. At first it concentrated on running phony issue ads but later added independent expenditures to its repertoire. Between the two the group has spent more than an estimated $1 million on outside electioneering activities between 2010 and 2016 to support GOP legislative candidates. Former GOP Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen, who was disgraced in the caucus scandal, helped create and raise money for the group.
At the beginning of October it first spent nearly $11,000 on radio ads and mailings to support Republicans in three Wisconsin State Assembly races.
In the end it reported spending over $680,000 to support Republican candidates in one senate - the 5th - and eight assembly races - 14th, 31st, 42nd, 51st, 62nd, 84th, 92nd and 96th.
Spending exceeded $100,000 in four assembly districts:
- Nearly $168,000 in the 92nd to support Republican freshman Rep. Treig Pronschinske of Mondovi.
- Over $143,000 backing Republican Loren Oldenburg in the open 96th.
- Over $126,000 supporting Republican incumbent Todd Novak in the 51st.
- Over $100,000 in the open 14th to back Republican Wisconsin State Treasurer Matt Adamczyk against Democrat Robyn Vining.
The organization ran issue ads during special legislative elections held earlier in 2018.
Last active election: 2016
This organization is registered with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission as an independent expenditure committee following the January 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC.