Hijacking Campaign 2020 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2020

Posted: February 13, 2020
Updated: April 19, 2021

This organization reported independent expenditure activity as an unregistered committee during the April 2020 Wisconsin State Supreme election. Several months after the election it filed a report crediting all independent spending to its registered independent expenditure committee. Please see that profile for information on SEIU's spending in the April election. The original reports showing spending by the SEIU's unregistered committee are still available on the Ethics Commission campaign website.

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.

Hijacking Campaign 2020 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2020

Posted: February 14, 2020
Updated: June 23, 2021

Fall: Oath • Spending
Spring: Oath • Spending

This is an unregistered political committee run by the Milwaukee-based Voces de la Frontera, an immigrant rights group that provides legal and employment services and citizenship and language training to immigrant and low-wage workers.

The group is active in both state and local elections. Between 2010 and 2019 Voces spent about $211,000 through both its registered and unregistered independent expenditure committees to support Democratic and liberal candidates in Wisconsin legislative and statewide races.

In 2020 it made independent expenditures in both the fall legislative and spring Wisconsin State Supreme Court elections.

Fall Election

Voces first reported independent spending about a month before the November 3 election when it spent $26,250 on phone banks to support three Milwaukee-are Democrats in the 8th, 9th and 13th Assembly districts.

Voces spent over $209,000 for mailers, campaign staff, phone banks and radio and online advertising in 24 races, four Seanate - the 6th, 16th, 26th and 30th - and 20 Assembly - the 4th, 8th, 9th, 11th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 21st, 24th, 47th, 48th, 51st, 55th, 63rd, 66th, 76th, 82nd, 88th and 90th.

Nearly half of that spending, roughly $99,000, was devoted to just six Assembly races:

• Nearly $22,000 in suburban Milwaukee's 6th District to support first term Democratic incumbent Robyn Vining, the first Democrat to hold that seat in a quarter of a century.

• Roughly $17,000 in Milwaukee's 9th where they supported first term Democratic incumbent Marsiabel Cabrera.

• About another $16,000 in the 13th in suburban Milwaukee where it supported Democratic challenger Sara Rodriguez over four-term Republican incumbent Rob Hutton.

• Yet another $16,000 to support Democrat Syliva Ortiz-Velez in the open 8th District seat in Milwaukee.

• Nearly $15,000 in an attempt to unseat Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos in the 63rd in the Racine area..

• Over $12,500 to support Democratic incumbent Greta Neubauer of Racine in the 66th.

Five of of the Voces-backed candidates in those six races won their elections, the lone exception being Robin Vos in the 63rd.

Spring Election

There were three candidates in the February 18 primary for the Wisconsin State Supreme Court: First term incumbent Dan Kelly, appointed to the high court in 2016 by Republican Gov. Scott Walker; Dane County Judge Jill Karofsky; and Marquette law professor, Ed Fallone, who had run for the court previously in 2013. The top two vote-getters would move on to the April 7 election.

Voces spent about $3,900 on mailers promoting Fallone's candidacy.

Fallone failed to make the final ballot and two weeks after the primary the group first reported new spending on behalf of Karofsky against Kelly in the April election. Karofsky won the election.

Fallone and Karofsky both drew on campaign contributions and support from traditional Democratic voters and Kelly, a conservative, was backed by Republican and conservative contributors and groups. At the time, conservatives controlled the Wisconsin Supreme Court by a 5-2 margin.

Last active election: 2019

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.

Hijacking Campaign 2020 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2020

Posted: March 10, 2020
Updated: June 24, 2021

Spring: Oath • Spending

This is a liberal social justice group based in San Francisco, Calif., that is closely associated with the Tides Foundation, which was created in the mid-1970s.  Tides’ advocacy includes human rights, immigration, labor, health, and environmental issues. This was the first time this group had been involved in a Wisconsin state election.

The group filed late paperwork with the state in early March showing it had spent over $6,400 on brochures and other electioneering activities to support Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Ed Fallone. Fallone, a Marquette University law professor, was one of three candidates for a seat on the high court but was eliminated in the Feb. 18 spring primary. This was Fallone's second attempt at the court.

Incumbent Justice Dan Kelly and Dane County Circuit Court Judge Jill Karofsky advanced from the primary to the April 7 spring election ballot. This was Kelly's first election after his 2016 appointment by former GOP Gov. Scott Walker. Karofsky won the election.

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.

Hijacking Campaign 2020 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2020

Posted: March 10, 2020
Updated: June 23, 2021

Fall: Oath • Spending
Spring: Oath • Spending

This is an unregistered committee controlled by the Washington D.C.-based Service Employees International Union - SEIU.  The committee, which does not have to report the source or amount of its fundraising to the state, intends to make independent expenditures in Wisconsin elections on behalf of Democratic candidates.

This committee reported independent expenditures in both the 2020 fall legislative elections and the spring Wisconsin State Supreme Court elections.

Another committee associated with the SEIU - this one run by the state chapter - was involved in the same elections in 2020.

Fall Election

Four days before the August 11 primary elections, the committee first reported spending over $12,000 on texting and digital ads to support candidates in five Democratic primaries for the State Senate and Assembly - the 6th Senate and the 8th and 17th Assembly Districts in the Milwaukee-area and the 26th Senate and 48th Assembly districts in Madison. With the exception of the 6th Senate District, where incumbent La Tonya Johnson faced a primary challenge, all the other seats were open. All the candidates SEIU backed in the Democratic primaries but one went on to win in the general. The lone exception was the 8th Assembly District where the union-backed candidate lost the Democratic primary to the eventual winner Sylvia Ortiz-Velez.

In mid-September the committee first reported spending towards the general election when it spent over $88,000 on direct mail opposing Republican candidates in 18 Assembly districts, all but two - Clint Moses in the 29th and Rachael Cabral-Guevara in the 55th - were incumbents.

By the end of the election SEIU spent over $50,000 each in four Assembly races:

• Nearly $64,000 on the 82nd in suburban Milwaukee where it backed newcomer Democrat Jacob Malinowski against four-term Republican incumbent Ken Skowronski.

• Over $61,000 in the 21st, also in suburban Milwaukee, where it supported Democrat Erik Brooks over four-term Republican incumbent Jessie Rodriguez.

• Over $55,000 in the 4th in Green Bay area to support Democrat Kathy Hinkfuss against three-term Republican incumbent David Steffen.

• Over $53,000 in northwestern Wisconsin's 30th where it backed Democrat Sarah Yacoub's attempt to unseat two-term Republican incumbent Shannon Zimmerman. Zimmerman had run for the 10th Senate seat in a special election held in January 2018 but lost in the primary.

The Republican incumbents won in all those races.

In total, the union spent over $800,000 on mailers, digital ads, texting and phone calls in 28 districts, two State Senate - the 6th and 26th - and 26 Assembly - the 4th, 8th, 13th, 15th, 17th, 21st, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 29th, 30th, 31st, 42nd, 48th, 49th, 50th, 51st, 55th, 62nd, 63rd, 68th, 82nd, 85th, 88th, 92nd and 96th. Only six of the candidates SEIU supported won on November 3.

Spring Election

Four weeks before the April 7 Wisconsin State Supreme court election it first reported spending $4,200 on text messages to support Dane County Circuit Court Judge Jill Karofsky against incumbent Justice Daniel Kelly. Kelly was appointed to the position in 2016 by Republican Gov. Scott Walker after the retirement of Justice David Prosser. This was the first time Kelly stood before the voters. He lost the election to Karofsky.

In the end, SEIU reported spending more than $84,000 for texting, campaign staff and digital advertising in the election.

Last active election: 2019

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.

Hijacking Campaign 2020 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2020

Posted: March 23, 2020
Updated: June 22, 2021

Fall: Oath • Spending
Spring: Oath • Spending

This committee is used by Planned Parenthood, which is the leading advocate and provider of reproductive health care for women in the state and the nation, to make independent expenditures to support Democratic candidates in legislative and statewide races in Wisconsin.

In 2020 Planned Parenthood used this committee to make independent expenditures in the fall legislative and spring Wisconsin State Supreme Court elections. Another committee affiliated with Planned Parenthood also made independent expenditures in the fall elections.

Fall Election

Most of this committee's independent spending was in the Democratic primaries held on August 11:

• $1,000 for Facebook ads to support Jonathan Hansen in the 30th Senate District Democratic primary in Green Bay where his opponent was Sandra Ewald. Hansen is the nephew of the incumbent, retiring Democratic Senator Dave Hansen. Hansen lost to Republican Eric Wimberger in the November election. Wimberger had unsuccessfully challenged the retiring incumbent in 2016.

• $1,000 for Facebook ads in support of Democrat Brad Pfaff in the 32nd Senate District. Pfaff won the three-way primary defeated Republican Dan Kapanke in the November election. Kapanke had represented the district from 2005 until he was unseated in a 2011 recall election by the retiring incumbent Democrat Jennifer Shilling.

• $1,000 on Facebook ads backing Joanna Bautch in the 8th Assembly District in Milwaukee. She lost to eventual winner Syliva Ortiz-Velez.

• $1,000 on Facebook ad to support Tomika Vukovic in Milwaukee's 11th Assembly District. She lost to the general election winner Dona Drake.

• Nearly $5,300 on Facebook ads, mailers phone banks supporting challenger Kristina Shelton against incumbent Staush Gruszynski in the 90th Assembly District Democratic primary in the Green Bay area. Late in 2017 Democratic leaders had sought Gruszynski's resignation for sexually harassing a Capitol staff member.

In late September Planned Parenthood spent a reported final $45 for emails to support Democrats in the 13th, 24th and 88th Assembly districts.

Another committee affiliated with Planned Parenthood also made independent expenditures in the fall elections.

 Spring Election

About two weeks before the April 7 Wisconsin Supreme Court election the group reported spending nearly $65,000 for robocalls and online advertising to support Dane County Circuit Court Judge Jill Karofsky's successful challenge to incumbent Justice Daniel Kelly, an appointee to the court by former Republican Governor Scott Walker. This was Kelly's first ever election for the post.

The week leading up to the election it reported spending another $460 on phone banks promoting Karofsky.

Last active election: 2019

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.

Hijacking Campaign 2020 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2020

Posted: March 26, 2020
Updated: June 25, 2021

Fall: Oath • Spending
Spring: Oath • Spending

This committee makes  independent expenditures in Wisconsin elections for the Virginia-based  American Majority Action. The group, which was created in 2010, recruits and supports conservative candidates for state and local races across the country.

The group first appeared in Wisconsin state elections during the 2012 recall races. It was also among the sponsors of a protest in early 2011 at the State Capitol to support former Republican Gov. Scott Walker and his controversial plan to slash public employee collective bargaining rights.

In 2020 the group was involved in both the fall legislative and the spring Wisconsin State Supreme elections.

Fall Election

In mid-September the committee reported its first independent expenditures in the fall elections. It reported spending a little over $1,000 on campaign staff and other related expenses to support Republicans in two suburban Milwaukee Assembly districts, incumbent Rob Hutton in the 13th and challenger Bonnie Lee in the 14th.

By the end of the third week in September, the committee's total reported spending approached $3,700 and now included support for three more State Assembly Republican incumbents: Todd Novak, in southwestern Wisconsin's 51st, Jessie Rodriguez in the 21st and Dan Knodl in the 24th, the last two in suburban Milwaukee. The group would end up spendnig nearly $15,000 in the the 51st alone.

About five weeks before the November 3 election total spending exceeded $11,000 and expanded to include support for the Republican incumbent in the 23rd Assembly district, Jim Ott.

By the end of the election it had expanded its spending to include three more Assembly districts - the 15th, 55th and 88th - for a total of nearly $98,000 across nine Assembly races.

Spending by American Majority Action reached five figures in four races:

• Over $23,000 in the 13th to support Republican incumbent Rob Hutton atainst Democratic challenger Sara Rodriguez.

• Over $14,700 on the 51st backing Republican incumbent Todd Novak.

• Over $13,300 in the 14th to back GOP challenger Bonnie Lee against Democratic freshman Rep. Robyn Vining.

• $13,100 in the 15th to support Repubilcan incumbent Joe Sanfelippo.

Spring Election

About two weeks before the April 7 spring elections, the committee first filed paperwork showing it spent $8,500 on text messages to support incumbent Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly. It reported spending a total of nearly $22,000 in the race. Kelly faced challenger Dane County Circuit Judge Jill Karofsky for a 10-year seat on the high court. Karofsky won the election.

Last active election: 2019

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.

Hijacking Campaign 2020 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2020

Posted: March 29, 2020
Updated: June 24, 2021

Spring: Oath • Spending

Indivisible Action is an arm of the liberal Indivisible Project. Based in Washington, D.C., its self-avowed mission it to "elect progressive leaders, realize bold progressive policies, rebuild our democracy, and defeat the Trump agenda." This was the first time this group involved itself in a Wisconsin state election.

Little more than a week before the April 7 election it reported spending nearly $3,500 to support the election of Dane County Circuit Court Judge Jill Karofsky to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. She defeated the incumbent, Justice Daniel Kelly, an appointee of former Republican Governor Scott Walker.

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.

Hijacking Campaign 2020 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2020

Posted: April 2, 2020
Updated: June 24, 2021

Spring: Oath • Spending

This is federal political action committee (PAC) used by the National Rifle Association (NRA), the nation's largest and most controversial pro-gun group, to support Republican and conservative candidates and attack Democrats in races for federal and state offices. Since 1998 the NRA's independent expenditures in Wisconsin elections have amounted to more $5.5 million.

Less than a week before the April 7 election it reported spending about $960 on text messages to support incumbent Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly. An appointee of former Republican Governor Scott Walker, Kelly lost to Dane County Circuit Court Judge Jill Karofsky.

Last active election: 2018

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.

Hijacking Campaign 2020 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2020

Posted: April 2, 2020
Updated: June 24, 2021

Spring: Oath • Spending

Founded in 1979 by Nan Aron, the Alliance for Justice is a coalition of liberal-leaning groups that works to promote the election and appointment of progressive and left-leaning judges. This was the first time it involved itself in a Wisconsin election.

Less than a week before the April 7 Wisconsin State Supreme Court election the group reported spending about $16,600 for online advertising and videos to support Dane County Circuit Court Judge Jill Karofsky against incumbent Justice Daniel Kelly, a 2016 appointee of former Republican Governor Scott Walker. Karofsky won the election.

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.

Hijacking Campaign 2020 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2020

Posted: April 17, 2020
Updated: June 24, 2021

Spring: Oath • Spending

Organized only in 2019, Blue Sky Waukesha, Inc. is a liberal leaning group based in Waukesha County. Its president, Kristen Hansen is a Common Cause in Wisconsin board member.

Nine days after the April 7 spring elections, Blue Sky first reported spending in a variety of local races plus $3,300 on mailers to support Dane County Circuit Court Judge Jill Karofsky against incumbent Justice Daniel Kelly in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election. Karofsky won.

Last active election: 2018

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.