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

Posted: October 20, 2022
Updated: March 25, 2024

Oath • Spending

Based in Washington, DC, the Lincoln Project was first formed in 2019 by former and then-current Republicans who opposed the reelection of Republican President Donald Trump in 2020. During that election, it ran ads opposing Trump and other Republican candidates for federal office. It now describes its mission as the defense of democracy. This is the first time the organization has involved itself in state-level elections in Wisconsin.

Less than three weeks before the November 8 election, the Lincoln Project reported spending $108,100 for online advertising against the GOP challenger for governor, Tim Michels.

In the remaining weeks leading up to the election, the group reported over another $146,000 for online advertising opposing Michels.

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

Posted: October 21, 2022
Updated: March 22, 2024

Oath • Spending

This is an unregistered committee run by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), a Washington, D.C.-based union that represents public sector workers. This is the fifth different committee that the national AFSCME office has used to make independent expenditures in Wisconsin politics since 2010. Committees sponsored by the national union were involved in the 2012 fall and recall elections as well as the 2018 (as AFSCME People and simply AFSCME) and 2020 fall elections. While the AFSCME Working Family Fund is not registered with the state of Wisconsin, it is registered with the Federal Elections Commission.

Less than three weeks before the November 8 election, the committee first reported independent expenditures in the 2022 fall state elections, with more than $92,500 for mailers and online advertising to support Democratic incumbents Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul.

Last active election: 2020

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

Posted: October 21, 2022
Updated: March 22, 2024

Oath • Spending

Community Change Voters is a Washington, DC-based organization that seeks to increase voter turnout among lower income voters of color. While the committee is not registered with the state of Wisconsin, it is with the Federal Elections Commission as an independent expenditure committee and was first active in 2016 as Immigrant Voters Win PAC. This is the first time the organization has been active in Wisconsin state politics.

Less than three weeks before the November 8 election, the organization first reported spending over $44,000 for phone calls and online advertising to support Democratic incumbent Gov. Tony Evers. 

In the days leading up to the election, the committee reported spending over $17,000 for phone calls and online ads to support Evers.

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

Posted: October 22, 2022
Updated: March 22, 2024

Oath • Spending

Restoration PAC is a super PAC registered with the Federal Elections Commission to make independent expenditures to support socially and economically conservative candidates. According to its own website, the organization considers "elite, Marxist neo-liberals" and "Communist China" to be the two greatest threats to the country. The principal funder of the organization in recent years has been Richard Uihlein, the founder of shipping supply business Uline and, along with his wife, a major financial player in Wisconsin politics. Another organization supported by Uihein, Fighting for Wisconsin, was involved in the Republican primary for governor.

Until 2022, Restoration PAC's involvement in Wisconsin politics had been limited to the federal level, specifically the 2016 and 2018 U.S. Senate elections. In spring 2022, the PAC reported spending nearly $82,000 in local, nonpartisan Green Bay elections.

With less than three weeks remaining before the November 8 election, the PAC reported spending $935,000 for television and online advertising to oppose Democratic incumbent Gov. Tony Evers. The ad claimed Evers, who was state school superintendent before he was elected governor in 2018, ran an agency that suggested white people wear privilege wristbands.

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

Posted: October 22, 2022
Updated: March 22, 2024

Oath • Spending

Family Friendly Action PAC is a super PAC registered with the Federal Elections Commission to make independent expenditures first active in 2020. The organization advocates for paid family leave, improved access to healthcare and higher wages. The group is active in political campaigns in at least five other states.

Less than three weeks before the November 8 election, the organization reported spending over $270,000 for brochures and canvassing to support Democratic incumbent Gov. Tony Evers.

Two days before the election, it reported spending $20,000 for canvassing to support Evers.

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

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

Oath • Spending

This is an unregistered independent expenditure committee used by the Leaders Igniting Transformation Action Fund, a grassroots youth group created in 2017 to work on racial and economic justice, civic engagement, and other issues. 

About two weeks before the November 8 election, the committee reported spending nearly $47,000 on a "youth voter guide" supporting Democratic incumbents Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul as well the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor Rep. Sara Rodriguez.

The day before Halloween, it reported spending another $9,375 to support Evers, Kaul and Rodriguez.

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

Posted: October 26, 2022
Updated: March 22, 2024

Oath • Spending

Based in Los Angeles, Rise, Inc. is an organization that advocates for student debt loan forgiveness and free higher education. Its chief executive officer, Max Lubin, served in the U.S. Department of Education as an appointee of President Barack Obama.

Two weeks before the November 8 election, Rise, Inc. reported spending $10,670 for phone calls to support Democratic incumbent Gov. Tony Evers.

It later reported spending about another $4,700 for more phones calls to support Evers.

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

Posted: October 28, 2022
Updated: March 22, 2024

Oath • Spending

This unregistered independent expenditure committee is run by the Wisconsin branch of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). The union represents professional public employees, including, but not limited to, teachers.

AFT-Wisconsin first reported making independent expenditures just twelve days before the November 8 election. It reported spending - starting at the begin of September - over $17,300 for online advertising and campaign staff expenses to support Democratic incumbent Gov. Tony Evers as well as Democrats in a number of legislative races spanning the state.

A week before the election, it reported spending a little over another $500.

The day of the election, AFT reported spending about $400 to support Evers, his running mate for lieutenant governor, Rep. Sara Rodriguez, and Rep. Katrina Shankland, the Democratic incumbent in the 71st State Assembly District.

The day after the election, the the committee reported another $350 spent in the governor's race.

Last active election: 2020

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

Posted: November 4, 2022
Updated: March 22, 2024

Oath • Spending

This is a conservative Super PAC based in Loveland, CO that was created to sponsor electioneering activities on behalf of pro-gun candidates.

The group is mostly funded by the National Association for Gun Rights and numerous individual contributors. In the 2022 election cycle, the Super PAC made about $246,767 in independent expenditures in U.S. Senate races against Democrats and moderate Republicans. 2022 was the first year it was active in Wisconsin state politics.

Less than a week before the Nov. 8 election, the committee first reported making independent expenditures to oppose the reelection of Democratic incumbent Gov. Tony Evers. It reported spending over $4,300 for online advertisements against Evers starting in mid-October. After the election, it reported it had spent about another $400 for online advertisements opposing Evers.

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

Posted: November 4, 2022
Updated: March 25, 2024

Oath • Spending

This corporation, based in Milwaukee, was created in 2020 with ties to labor in order to increase public support for the Biden administration’s infrastructure and multi-trillion-dollar social spending packages. The corporation was founded in 2020 by C.J. Grimes, a former organizing and digital director for Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

The group reportedly spent nearly $440,000 on independent expenditures in the 2022 election cycle to support Democratic U.S. Senate candidates in battleground states, including Georgia, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. This was the first year it was active in Wisconsin state-level elections.

Less than a week before the November 8 elections, the group first reported spending over $17,300 for phone calls to support Democratic incumbent Gov. Tony Evers against his GOP challenger Tim Michels. A day after that initial report, it reported spending nearly an additional $7,500 in the governor's race.

The organization spent about another $44,300 for phone call, texts and other communication services to support Evers in the days remaining before 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.