Hijacking Campaign 2022 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2022

Posted: July 13, 2022
Updated: March 25, 2024

Oath • Spending

This committee was created to make independent expenditures in legislative and statewide elections by the Wisconsin Realtors Association, the state lobbying group that pushes state spending, tax, and other policies that benefit realtors. Between 2012, when the it was first active, and 2021, the committeespent over $1.2 million on electioneering activities to support Republican candidates and the 2013 reelection of conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Patience Roggensack.

In mid-July the committee first reported spending $150,000 for mailings, digital and radio advertising, consulting fees and other miscellaneous costs to support realtor Jon Kaiser in the 29th Senate district. Kaiser was one of three candidates in the Republican primary for the seat then represented by retiring Republican Sen. Jerry Petrowski. Kaiser placed third in the primary.

In mid-September, the committee reported it had spent $170,000 for unspecified "political advocacy communications" in mid-August to support former legislator Romaine Quinn in the open 25th State Senate district. Quinn, who had retired from the State Assembly with the 2020 election, was making an ultimately successful bid to replace retiring Democratic incumbent Janet Bewley.

Last active election: 2021

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.

Hijacking Campaign 2022 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2022

Posted: July 16, 2022
Updated: March 25, 2024

Oath • Spending

This committee was newly formed in fall 2018 by the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters, now called Wisconsin Conservation Voters, a statewide environmental advocacy group, to make independent expenditures on behalf of candidates the organization supports in legislative and statewide elections. Between 2018, when it was first organized, and 2020, this committee spent nearly $1.8 million in support of candidates for the legislature and state-wide offices such as governor and the state supreme court. Between 2010 and 2020, Wisconsin Conservation Voters have used four different committees to make independent expenditures exceeding $3.8 million in state elections, placing the group among the highest spending outside electioneering groups.

Before the August primaries, the committee had already reported spending over $800,000 to support Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in the fall election.

By mid-Ocotober, the group reported spending nearly another $1.1 million for online advertising and mailers to support Evers, Democratic incumbent Attorney General Josh Kaul, as well a Democratic candidates in two state senate and eight assembly districts.

The group launched two new ads - here and here - in mid-October reminding listeners that Tim Michels, the GOP candidate for governor, was endorsed by former President Donald Trump. The ads also accused Michels of making millions of dollars off building oil pipelines through his family-owned Michels Corp. and opposing clean energy projects.

Conservation Voters also sponsored an ad that praised Kaul for holding polluters and powerful corporations accountable and accused his GOP opponent, Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney, of letting violent criminals off easy.

Between mid-October and the day of the Nov. 8 election, Conservation Voters had spent about another $1.9 million for mailers, online advertising and phone calls to support Evers and Kaul along with Democratic candidates in three state senate and nine state assembly races.

Last active election: 2020

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.

Hijacking Campaign 2022 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2022

Posted: July 19, 2022
Updated: March 25,2024

Oath • Spending

This is a new committee with a Jacksonville, Fla., address that first registered to make independent expenditures to oppose Wisconsin GOP candidate for governor Rebecca Kleefisch. Kleefisch faced three other Republicans in an Aug. 9 primary to determine who would go on to challenge Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in November. She lost to the eventual candidate, Wisconsin businessman Tim Michels.

Sunrise in American Political Fund reported spending nearly $389,000 in the Republican primary.

In mid-September the committee first reported spending to oppose Evers, spending over $128,000 for radio advertisements and web development. At the end of the month it reported spending $400,000 on television advertising against Evers. The 30-second television ad accused the Wisconsin Parole Commission of releasing violent criminals early and blamed Evers.

Towards the end of the first week of October, the committee reported a further $150,000 for television ads opposing Evers.

Less than three weeks before the November 8 election, it reported spending another half a million dollars for television and radio advertising against Evers. The broadcast and cable ad, which ran in the La Crosse and Eau Claire television markets, blamed Evers for high inflation and rising natural gas and food prices.

Twelve days before the election, it reported spending a final $300,000 for television, radio and online advertising to oppose Evers.

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.

Hijacking Campaign 2022 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2022

Posted: July 23, 2022
Updated: March 22, 2024

Oath • Spending

This is a new organization that ony registered with the state to make independent expenditures on July 18 of this year. Despite the committee's name, it operates from a mail box in Houston, Texas and banks in the state of Virginia.

A day after it registered with the state, the group first reported spending nearly $137,000 on television ads to support former GOP Rep. Adam Jarchow in the three-way Republican primary for attorney general on August 9.

In the weeks leading up to the primary, it spent nearly another $271,000 on televison ads supporting Jarchow and opposing Fond du Lac District Attorney Eric Toney, Jarchow's main opponent in the Republican primary.

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.

Posted: August 2, 2022
Updated: March 22, 2024

Oath • Spending

The American Federation for Children is a Washington, D.C.-based group that supports school voucher programs in Wisconsin and throughout the country.

This committee is used by the group to make independent expenditures in Wisconsin legislative and statewide elections. Most of the group’s outside electioneering activities support Republican candidates and oppose Democratic candidates.

Since 2010, the federation has spent $8.3 million on independent expenditures, making it one of the top spending electioneering groups to influence Wisconsin state elections.

In early August, the committee reported spending nearly $10,000 on print and digital advertising to support GOP Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, of Rochester, in his Aug. 9 primary.

After taking a long break from independent expenditures after the August primaries, the group reported spending nearly $326,000 for mailers, television and online advertising to support GOP candidates in various legislative districts in late October. Over half of that amount ($166,250) went to television advertising against Democratic candidate Kristin Alfheim who faces then Republican Rep. Rachael Cabral-Guevara for the open 19th State Senate District seat.

In subsequent weeks leading up the election the committee reported spending about another $343,000 for online advertisements and mailers in several legislative districts.

Last active election: 2021

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.

Hijacking Campaign 2022 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2022

Posted: August 2, 2022
Updated: March 22, 2024

Oath • Spending

This corporation is run by the Republican State Leadership Committee to make independent expenditures in support of Republican legislative candidates in Wisconsin and throughout the country.

Between 2010 and 2021 the organization spent nearly $6.3 million on independent expenditures and phony issue ads in Wisconsin legislative and statewide races, making it one of the top interest group spenders on Badger State elections.

The group reported spending over $50,000 for mailings and online advertising to support Republican Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, of Oostburg, in the Aug. 9 primary.

It did not report any new independent expenditures until less than three weeks before the November 8 election. The committee reported spending over $218,300 on mailers, online advertising and text messages to support GOP candidates in two open seats, the 25th senate, then held by the Democrats, and the 19th senate, left vacant when its incumbent, Sen. Roger Roth, vacated the seat to run for lieutenant governor. A day later it reported spending over $15,500 for text messages in those two races.

Last active election: 2021

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.

Hijacking Campaign 2022 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2022

Posted: August 7, 2022
Updated: March 25, 2024

Oath • Spending

This independent disbursement committee is run by Wisconsin Family Action, a conservative group that opposes gay marriage and domestic partnerships. Between disclosed independent expenditures and undisclosed issue ads, this group spent over $1 million since 2010 and 2021 to support Republican and conservative candidates for legislative and statewide offices in Wisconsin.

Two days before the Aug. 9 primary election, the committee reported spending $30,000 on robocalls, digital and television ads to support challenger Adam Steen against Assembly Speaker Robin Vos in the 63rd assembly district Republican primary. Steen lost in the primary challenged Vos as a write-in candidate in November.

Towards the end of September, Wisconsin Family Action first reported spending in the races for governor and attorney general when it spent nearly $52,000 for postcards and other miscellaneous expenses to support Republicans challengers Tim Michels for the former office and Eric Toney for the latter.

By the time of the Nov.8 election the group had spent nearly another $144,000 for phone calls and online and television advertising to support Michels and Toney along with GOP candidates in five state senate and six assembly districts.

Last active election: 2021

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.

Hijacking Campaign 2022 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2022

Posted: August 7, 2022
Updated: March 22, 2024

Oath • Spending

This is an independent expenditure committee used by Citizen Action of Wisconsin to pay for electioneering activities to support Democratic candidates in legislative and statewide elections. The organization is a coalition of labor, environment, senior citizen and other groups. Between 2010 and 2020 the group spent nearly $680,000 in Wisconsin elections, both partisan and nonpartisan.

The committee had reported spending a little over $1,800 in the Democratic primaries to support Darrin Madison for the open 10th Assembly in Milwaukee as well as Rep. Sara Rodriguez and political newcomer Angelito Tenorio for lieutenant governor and state treasurer, respectively. The incumbents in the last two offices stepped down to run for the U.S. Senate.

At the end of the first full week in September, the committee reported its first spending in the fall gubernatorial election in the form of $2,500 plus for phone calls to support Democratic incumbent Gov. Tony Evers. By the end of September, it had reported spending over $7,800 for phone banks to support Evers.

At the end of the first week of October, Citizen Action reported spending about an additional $1,900 for phone banks in support of Evers. In mid-Ocober it reported an additional $1,945.

By the time of the election it had reported spending about another $36,000 to support Evers and Democrats in seven assembly districts and the Democratic incumbent in the 31st senate.

Last active election: 2020

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.

Hijacking Campaign 2022 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2022

Posted: August 25, 2022
Updated: March 22, 2024

Oath • Spending*

This independent expenditure committee, which has a Monona address, was created to support Democratic and left-leaning candidates for statewide office and the legislature. The committee's sponsoring organization, A Better Wisconsin Together, has also run issue ads in the 2022 election.

A Better Wisconsin Together Political Fund was active in the 2020 spring and fall elections and the 2021 spring races where it spent about $4.7 million to support Democratic and left-leaning candidates for statewide office and the legislature. It quickly became one of the top-spending outside electioneering groups in Wisconsin.

Most of the group’s contributions came from labor union political action committees (PACs) and corporations, and Democratic ideological groups.

In mid-August, the group first sponsored a 30-second television ad that criticized GOP candidate for governor Tim Michels because he supports an 1849 state law that made abortions illegal, even in cases of rape and incest.

In mid-September, A Better Wisconsin Together sponsored a 30-second television ad that criticized Michels for opposing abortion in cases of rape and incest and for supporting anti-abortion groups that oppose birth control and abortion to save the life of the mother with his family foundation. The group also sponsored a 15-second digital ad that called Michels "radical" for opposing red flag laws that would prohibit domestic abusers from buying guns.

Towards the end of the first week in October, the committee reported spending nearly $812,000 for television and online advertising in the governor's race as well as six state senate and 17 state assembly races.

Four weeks before the November 8 election, A Better Wisconsin reported spending nearly $26,000 on online advertising to oppose Scott Soik in the 71st Assembly District. Soik faced five-term Democratic incumbent Katrina Shankland.

Less than four weeks before the November 8 election, the committee reported spending another $11,785 for online advertising against Soik plus $20,750 for online ads to oppose Republican Jeff Klett in the open 45th Assembly District. The committee also reported its first spending in the attorney general's race with $400,000 on TV ads against GOP Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney, who was challenging Democratic incumbent Attorney General Josh Kaul. The group's ad claimed a child abuser got off without prison time and a nine-time felon was released from jail and later murdered a firefighter in two cases that Toney handled as a county prosecutor.

Three weeks before the November election, A Better Wisconsin reported spending $88,000 for online advertisements opposing the GOP candidates in the 45th, 71st and 84th assembly districts. Two weeks before the election, the committee reported spending over $178,000 for online advertising against the Republican candidates in the governor's race and those same three legislative districts.

Eight days before the election, A Betrter Wisconsin reported spending over $2.57 million for online advertising in the governor's race and several legislative elections.

A week before the election, it reported an additional $100,000 for online advertisements to support Evers.

A day before the election, the committee reported spending $110,000 for phone calls opposing Michels.

*The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign found $1,865,000 of this spending in the committee's campaign finance report filed on September 27, 2022. That spending was never officially reported as independent expenditures by the committee.

Last active election: 2021

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.

Hijacking Campaign 2022 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2022

Posted: September 11, 2022
Updated: March 22, 2024

Oath • Spending

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is a labor union which represents health care, home care, nursing home, public service and building service workers in Wisconsin. This is the Wisconsin-based branch of the union. Before 2018 the union made independent expenditures through its PAC. With the 2018 fall election it started using an unregistered independent expenditure group instead as such groups are held to looser reporting requirements and funding source restrictions than a PAC.

Five days past Labor Day the SEIU reported its first spending in the fall 2022 elections with $42,500 to support incumbent Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and oppose his Republican challenger, businessman Tim Michels.

The group would spend over another $920,000 to support Evers in the coming weeks.

In mid-September, another SEIU sponsored committee - Service Employees International Union Committee on Political Education - reported independent expenditures in the 2022 fall elections.

 Last active election: 2020

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.