Hijacking Campaign 2023 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2023

Posted: February 16, 2023
Updated: March 26, 2024

Spring: Oath • Spending

This is an unregistered committee controlled by the Washington D.C.-based Service Employees International Union - SEIU. This SEIU committee – there have been several over the years – was first active in Wisconsin with the fall 2018 elections. Between 2018 and 2022 this committee spent about $1.8 million to support Democrats in partisan elections as well as "liberal" candidates for the officially non-partisan Wisconsin State Supreme Court.

Four candidates – two conservatives and two liberals – ran in the nonpartisan Feb. 21 primary to decide which two would go on to run in the April 4 election to determine who would replace retiring conservative Justice Patience Roggensack, and, by extension, decide the fate of the high court's then extant 4-3 conservative majority.

Six days before the primary, SEIU reported spending $15,900 for online advertising to oppose the two conservative candidates for the court, Kelly and Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Dorow. Both were initially appointed to the bench by former GOP Governor Scott Walker, whose hostility to organized labor was a hallmark of his tenure in office.

The winners in the primary were former State Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly, one of the conservatives, and Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz, one of the liberals. Protasiewicz defeated Kelly and shifted the ideological direction of the court when she took her seat in August.

After the primary the committee spent $38,750 toward online advertising to support Protasiewicz and to oppose Kelly.

Two affiliated committees, SEIU Wisconsin Healthcare and Service Workers Stronger Together and SEIU Wisconsin State Council Independent Expenditure Committee were also active in the election.

Last active election: 2022

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 2023 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2023

Posted: February 16, 2023
Updated: March 26, 2024

Spring: Oath • Spending

The Washington D.C.-based AFL-CIO uses the Working America committee to make independent expenditures in Wisconsin elections. This committee was first active in the fall 2022 election, but the union used a registered committee by the same name to make independent expenditures in the 2011 and 2012 recall and fall elections. In the 2016 fall elections, it used another committee called Working America Coalition. That committee, like the current one, operated as an unregistered committee, meaning it was not required to report its income sources to the state. This is the first time since 2011 that any of the various "Working America" committees has been involved in a Wisconsin State Supreme Court election.

Four candidates – two conservatives and two liberals – faced off in a Feb. 21 primary to determine who would move on to the April 4 general election to select the replacement for retiring Supreme Court Justice Patience Roggensack. The winner of the election would decide the ideological balance of the court controlled 4-3 by conservatives at the time of the 2023 election. The retiring justice was part of the court's conservative majority.

The winners of the primary were Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz, a liberal and Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly, an appointee to the court by Republican Governor Scott Walker, a fierce opponent of organized labor. Kelly lost the seat in the 2020 election.

Working America reported spending over $10,000 in the primary, mostly for online advertising to oppose Kelly.

In the weeks between the primary and the April election the group would spend over another $122,000 for online advertising, phone calls, campaign staff, literature and texts to support Protasiewicz.

Near the end of March, the committee sent out texts with the following copy: "Protasiewicz believes in women's freedom to make healthcare decisions. Vote Protasiewicz for Supreme Court on 4/4."

Another text sent by the group read: "The WI Supreme Court race winner will rule on important issues for working families. Vote Janet Protasiewicz on 4/4."

Yet another text read: "Protasiewicz knows that legislative maps shouldn't unfairly advantage any political party. Vote for fair maps on 4/4."

The day before the election, the group sent out texts that read: "Election Day is tomorrow. We're counting on you to get out and vote for Janet Protasiewicz. Will you be a voter?"

Last active election: 2022

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 2023 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2023

Posted: February 18, 2023
Updated: March 25, 2024

Spring: Oath • Spending

Indivisible Action is an arm of the liberal Indivisible Project. Based in Washington, D.C., its self-avowed mission is to "defeat MAGA" and "save democracy." This is the first time the group has reported independent expenditures in a Wisconsin state election since the 2020 Wisconsin State Supreme Court election.

Four candidates – two conservatives and two liberals – faced off in a Feb. 21 primary for a 10-year seat on the officially nonpartisan Wisconsin Supreme Court. The top two finishers, former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly, one of the conservatives, and Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz, one of the liberals, met in the April 4 general election to replace retiring conservative Justice Patience Roggensack.

The winner of the election would determine the ideological balance of the court, which was controlled 4-3 by conservatives at the time of the election. Protasiewicz won.

Four days before the primary, the group reported its first spending with nearly $5,000 for phone calls backing Protasiewicz.

About a month before the April election, Indivisible Action reported spending about $18,400 for mailers to support Protasiewicz.

In late March, the group sponsored text messages touting Protasiewicz like this one: "Early voting is open! Let's send a common sense voice to the Court to protect our freedoms, be fair & impartial, and stop MAGA. Will you be a voter for her by Tue, Apr 4?"

Finally, a week before the election, Indivisible Action reported spending nearly $28,000 devoted to radio ads and phone calls in support of Protasiewicz.

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 2023 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2023

Posted: February 18, 2023
Updated: March 26, 2024

Spring: Oath • Spending

Based in Brooklyn, NY, Women's March Win is the political action committee sponsored by Women's March, an organization that has its origin in the Women's March on Washington held in 2017 to protest the 2016 election of President Donald Trump and to advocate for women's rights. While the organization is registered with the Federal Elections Commission to make independent expenditures, this is the first time it has reported any in a Wisconsin state level election, albeit as an unregistered committee.

The officially nonpartisan Wisconsin State Supreme Court had a 4-3 conservative majority at the time of the 2023 election, a majority placed in jeopardy by the retirement of conservative Justice Patience Roggensack.

Four candidates – two conservatives and two liberals - faced off in a Feb. 21 primary to determine who would move on to the April 4 general election to replace Roggensack. The two winners of the primary were Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz, one of the liberals, and former Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly, a conservative 2016 appointee to the court by former GOP Gov. Scott Walker who was voted off the court in 2020.

Protasiewicz won the April election and took her seat on the court the following August delivering the high court a 4-3 liberal majority.

Four days before the primary, Women's March Win reported spending $10,000 for online advertising to support Protasiewicz. Four days before the election, the group reported another $5,000 for online advertising in her support.

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 2023 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2023

Posted: February 21, 2023
Updated: March 25, 2024

Spring: Oath • Spending

Based in Denver, CO, March On has its origin in the Women's March on Washington held in 2017 to protest the 2016 election of President Donald Trump and to advocate for women's rights. March On is the second such committee to make independent expenditures in the 2023 Wisconsin State Supreme Court election. While the organization has a political committee registered with the Federal Elections Commission to make independent expenditures, this is the first time it has reported any in a Wisconsin state level election, albeit as an unregistered committee.

Four candidates – two conservatives and two liberals – were running in the Feb. 21 nonpartisan primary to determine which two would compete for a 10-year seat on the high court in the April 4 general election.

The winner of the election would determine the ideological balance of the court, then controlled 4-3 by conservatives, as the winner would be replacing retiring conservative Justice Patience Roggensack.

The day before the primary, the group reported spending $15,000 for online advertising to support Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz for the high court, one of the liberals in the race. Protasiewicz defeated former State Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly, the remaining conservative, in the April 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 2023 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2023

Posted: February 25, 2023
Updated: March 26, 2024

Spring: Oath • Spending

This is a super PAC with a McFarland post office box for an address that was created in 2021 to support Democratic candidates.

The group spent over $300,000 on independent expenditures to back Democrats in U.S. Senate races in Georgia and Nevada during the 2022 election cycle and $14,000 to support Democatic Governor Tony Evers here in Wisconsin.

The group’s treasurer is listed as Michael Pfohl, a field organizer turned political software designer who began work with America Votes Wisconsin during the 2011 recall elections for governor and several state senators in Wisconsin.

Four candidates – two conservatives and two liberals – vied for a ten-year seat on the officially nonpartisan Wisconsin Supreme Court in the Feb. 21 spring primary with the two top finishers moving on to the April 4 general election to replace retiring conservative Justice Patience Roggensack. The winner of the election would determine the ideological balance of the court, which was controlled 4-3 by conservatives until the retirement of Roggensack.

The winners in the primary were former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly, a conservative appointee to the court by former GOP Governor Scott Walker voted off the court in 2020, and Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz, a liberal.

Protasiewicz won the election and assumed her seat in August shifting control of the court from conservatives to liberals.

The day after the primary, Organizing Empowerment reported laying out $525,000 for phone call and voter mobilization campaigns scheduled to run through the election to support Protasiewicz.

It later reported spending another $407,500 for canvassing and voter mobilization in the weeks and days leading up to the election.

Last active election: 2022

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 2023 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2023

Posted: March 7, 2023
Updated: March 26, 2024

Spring: Oath • Spending

This is an unregistered outside electioneering committee based in San Francisco that supports democratic candidates for state and federal offices.

The group, created in 2017, provides tech-savvy volunteers to campaigns to perform digital fundraising, advertising, data analysis, and other services.

In early March 2023, Tech for Campaigns reported spending a little over $15,000 to produce and run digital ads supporting Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Janet Protasiewicz and yet another $26,250 before the election was over.

Protasiewicz, who ran as a liberal, defeated former Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly, a conservative, in the April 4 election, gaining the ten-year court seat and a 4-3 majority on the court for liberals.

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 2023 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2023

Posted: March 8, 2023
Updated: March 25, 2024

Spring: Oath • Spending

Americas PAC IEO is a conservative Republican super PAC based in Marion, Iowa that spent more than $3.3 million in the 2021-22 election cycle on electioneering activities to oppose Democrats and support Republicans in federal races.

The group spends most of its money on broadcast advertising that targets minority voters with conservative views on abortion, school vouchers, same-sex marriage, and lower taxes.

In early March in Wisconsin, the group, operating as an unregistered committee, spent nearly $46,000 on radio ads to oppose Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Janet Protasiewicz. Protasiewicz, a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge, was viewed as, and ran as, a liberal. She faced former conservative Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly on April 4 to fill the open seat on the court. The winner of the race would determine the high court’s ideological balance. Protasiewicz won the race and flipped the court from a 4-3 conservative majority to a 4-3 liberal majority when she took her seat in August 2023.

In the two weeks leading up to the election, the PAC reported spending about another $132,200 on radio ads opposing Protasiewicz.

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 2023 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2023

Posted: March 10, 2023
Updated: March 25, 2024

Spring: Oath • Spending

This is a group created in 2003 by David and Charles Koch, the billionaire owners of Koch Industries and Wisconsin-based papermaker Georgia-Pacific. Americans for Prosperity first got involved in Wisconsin state politics through the medium of "issue ads" in 2006 and first reporting independent expenditures in 2018. Between 2010 and 2022 the group spent over $20.5 million on issue ads and independent expenditures combined to influence Wisconsin state elections, placing it, among the top five interest group spenders in state elections during that time period.

With less than four weeks remaining before the April 4 election for the Wisconsin State Supreme Court election, the group first reported making independent expenditures in that race. Former Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly, who was originally appointed to the court by former GOP Gov. Scott Walker, faced Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz for the 10-year seat left vacant by the retirement of conservative Justice Patience Roggensack. Conservatives had a 4-3 advantage on the high court until Roggensack's retirement.

Protasiewicz won the election.

The group's initial report shows it spent nearly $198,000 for online advertising, mailers, doorhangers and canvassing expenses to support Kelly.

Subsequenlty Americans for Prosperity spent over a further $620,000 for mailers, canvassing and online advertising in the race.

Last active election: 2022

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 2023 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2023

Posted: March 15, 2023
Updated: March 26, 2024

Spring: Oath • Spending

Based in New York City, Stand Up America was started in 2016 following the election of Donald Trump to the presidency. Operating as a non-profit, it seeks to expand voting rights, reduce the influence of money in politics and promote a variety of other progressive causes. The organization's founder Sean Eldridge is a former Democratic candidate for congress and activist. This is the first time this group has been involved in a Wisconsin state-level election.

The ideological direction of the officially non-partisan Wisconsin State Supreme Court was at play in the 2023 spring election. At the time, the court had a 4-3 conservative majority, a majority placed at risk by the retirement of conservative Justice Patience Roggensack.

A field of four candidates sought the ten-year seat but that was reduced to two in the Feb. 21 nonpartisan primary. Liberal Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz defeated former Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly, a conservative, in the April 4 election. When she took her place on the court the following August, control of the court switched to liberals.

Three weeks before the election, Stand Up for America reported spending about $12,300 for canvassing and text messages to support Protasiewicz. The text messages hit on familiar campaign themes, like this one: "In less than 2 weeks, you can help overturn Wisconsin's near-total abortion ban, fight back against gerrymandering, and protect the 2024 election. The state Supreme Court race will determine whether progressives or conservatives control the court. Have you had a chance to return your ballot for progressive Judge Janet Protasiewicz?" Click here for a text image.

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.