Hijacking Campaign 2025 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2025

Posted: February 24, 2025
Updated: April 2, 2025

Oath • Spending

This independent disbursement committee is run by Wisconsin Family Action, a socially conservative group that opposes gay marriage and domestic partnerships. Between disclosed independent expenditures and undisclosed issue ads, this group spent over $1.5 million between 2010 and 2024 to support Republican and conservative candidates for legislative and statewide offices in Wisconsin.

At the beginning of the last week in February, the committee reported its first spending in the 2025 Wisconsin State Supreme Court election with over $35,100 going towards postcards to support Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel for an open seat on the state’s highest court. Schimel, who formerly served as Wisconsin's state attorney general as a Republican, faced Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford in the April 1st election. While the court is officially nonpartisan, the election of Schimel would have overturned the 4-3 liberal majority won in the 2023 court election. Crawford's victory means liberals mantain control of the court.

A few days after filing its initial independent expenditure report with the state, the committee reported spending over another $14,100 for mailing costs to support Schimel.

Two weeks out from the April 1st election, the group reported spending over $149,500, mostly for television ads, in support of Schimel.

Eleven days before the election, it reported spending about $1,260 on Facebook ads and phone calls to support Schimel.

A week from the election, the committee reported about another $18,300 for Facebook ads and phone calls in the race.

Four days before the election, it reported spending $5,900 for online advertising to back Schimel.

The day of the election, Wisconsin Family Action reported about another $6,100 for phone calls and online advertising in the race.

Last active election: 2024

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 2025 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2025

Posted: February 26, 2025
Updated: April 7, 2025

Oath • Spending

Power to the Polls Action Fund first registered with the Wisconsin State Ethics Commission to make independent expenditures in the 2023 spring and special elections at the end of February of that year. It is sponsored by Power to the Polls, Inc., a corporation based in Shorewood, Wis. first organized in January 2022. The corporation made independent expenditures in the 2022 election with an unregistered committee operating under a slightly different name. In either guise, it routinely supports Democrats and liberals for office.

The committee first reported making independent expenditures in the 2025 Wisconsin State Supreme Court election towards the end of February with over $148,000 going towards canvassing and other campaign related costs. Power to the Polls supported Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford against Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel in the April 1st election for an open seat on the court. Lberals gained a 4-3 majority on the officially nonpartisan court in April 2023. The election of Schimel, who formerly served as Wisconsin’s attorney general as Republican, would have switched control of the court back to conservatives. Crawford's victory means that liberals maintain control of the court.

At the beginning of March, the committee reported spending over $57,100, mostly for radio ads, to support Crawford and oppose Schimel. Towards the end of the first week in March, it reported spending nearly another $51,000 for radio ads, campaign literature and canvasser recruitment to back Crawford and oppose Schimel.

At the end of the first week in March, Power to the Polls reported spending over $132,500 for phone banks and staff costs to support Crawford and oppose Schimel. All this spending was in the form of in-kind expenses credited to the SEIU Wisconsin State Council PAC, the political action committee controlled by the state branch of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The state SEIU has an independent expenditure committee active in the spring election, and at least one other committee with strong links to the SEIU has also reported making independent expenditures.

Just under three weeks before the April 1st election, the committee spent nearly a reported $215,000 on canvassing costs in support of Crawford and in opposition to Schimel. Three days later, it reported spending over $308,000, most of that for radio ads, to support Crawford and oppose Schimel.

Ten days before the election, Power to the Polls reported spending about $55,100, mostly for radio ads, to back Crawford and oppose Schimel.

Eight days before the election, it reported spending almost $275,000, much of that for canvassing, to support Crawford and oppose Schimel.

Three days before the election, the committee reported spending nearly $75,000 for radio ads, canvassing literature, staff and other campaign related costs.

Thee days after the election, Power to the Polls reported it had spent nearly another $21,000 to support Crawford.

Last active election: 2023

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 2025 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2025

Posted: February 26, 2025
Updated: July 16, 2025

Oath • Spending

Activate America is a federally registered super PAC based in Oakland, California. The organization was established in 2017 in response to the first Trump presidential administration and works to elect Democrats to congress nationwide. The organization first registered with the state as an independent disbursement committee at the beginning of February to campaign in the 2025 Wisconsin State Supreme Court election.

Towards the end of February, the committee initially reported spending about $1,500 for phone calls to support Dane Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford for the high court. Subsequently, the committtee revised that figure downwards to just under $250 actually spent. A few days after that revision, Activate America then reported it had spent about $1,300 for miscellaneous printing costs to support Crawford in mid-February. In July it reported spending another $800 for phone calls.*

Crawford facec Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge and former Republican attorney general Brad Schimel in the April 1st election for an open seat on the court. Although the court is officially nonpartisan, liberals enjoyed a 4-3 majority on the court at the time of the election, a majority gained in the April 2023 election. If Schimel had won, control of the court would have gone to conservatives. Crawford won the election and liberals maintain control of the court.

*The committee had reported $1,278.75 for printing costs on its July report but that appears to duplicate an expense reported in March so that sum has been omitted. 

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 2025 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2025

Posted: March 1, 2025
Updated: April 7, 2025

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 citizens, and other groups. A routine presence in Wisconsin state-level elections, both partisan and nonpartisan ones, the group spent about $850,000 between 2010 and 2024.

Citizen Action first reported making independent expenditures in the 2025 spring elections at the end of February with just shy of $1,900 going for phone calls the in Wisconsin State Supreme Court and State Superintendent of Public Instruction elections to be held on April 1st. A few days later it reported spending another $140 for volunteer canvassing split equally between both elections.

The group supported Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford against Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge and former Republican state attorney general Brad Schimel. The two were vying for an open seat on the court with the outcome of the election determining the court’s future ideological direction. The officially nonpartisan court had a 4-3 liberal majority. Schimel's defeat means liberal maintain control.

In the school superintendent race, Citizen Action supported incumbent Jill Underly, first elected in 2021. Although the office, like the supreme court, is officially nonpartisan, Underly was supported by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and her opponent, educational consultant and former charter school lobbyist Brittany Kinser, by the state GOP. Underly won reelection.

At the end of the first week in March, the group reported spending about $1,250, split evenly, for phone calls to support Crawford and Underly.

Three weeks before the April 1st election day, it reported spending $445 for canvassing, half to support Crawford and half Underly. A day later, it reported spending about another $1,400 for phone banks between the two campaigns.

Fifteen days before election day, Citizen Action reported spending about $937 for canvassing split evenly between the supreme court and school superintendent races.

Eleven days from the elections, the group reported spending over $1,370 for phone calls supporting Crawford and Underly.

A week before the elections, Citizen Action reported over $890 for canvassing split between the two races.

Four days before election day, it reported spending nearly $900 for phone banks between the two races. A day later, it reported about $4,000 for mailers between the two contests.

The day before the election, it reported about $1,500 for canvassing in the two races. The day of the election, Citizen Action reported spending another $3,400 in the two races for canvassing and phone calls.

Three days after the election, the group reported spending over $1,800 for canvassing and phone calls between the two constests on election day.

Last active election: 2024

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 2025 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2025

Posted: March 1, 2025
Updated: April 4, 2025

Oath • Spending

Our America first registered with the state as an independent expenditure committee on February 19, 2025. Based in Virginia, the committee’s registered treasurer is Ed Molchany, Chief Operating Officer of the Media Research Center (MRC), with which Our America shares its address. The Media Research Center’s self-professed mission is to fight “left-wing bias in news media and popular culture.” MRC was founded in 1987 by L. Brent Bozell the III, President Donald Trump’s pick to head the U.S. Agency for Global Media.

The committee first reported making independent expenditures in the 2025 Wisconsin State Supreme Court election at the end of February with more than $26,300 going towards text messages and online advertising to support Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel for an open seat on the court. Schimel, who previously served as Wisconsin State Attorney General as a Republican, was running against Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford in the election. At the time of the election, liberals held a 4-3 majority on the officially nonpartisan court that they won in the 2023 election. Schimel’s election would have flipped control back to conservatives. Consequently, the state GOP and conservative groups gave substantial financial backing to Schimel, and the state Democratic party and liberal groups did the same for Crawford. Crawford won the April 1st election, preserving liberal control of the court for the next three years.

A day after filing its initial spending report, Our America reported spending nearly another $800 for online ads supporting Schimel. A day later it reported spending over another $14,500 for online ads backing Schimel.

Towards the end of the first week in March, it reported spending about $38,000 for online advertising and texts to support Schimel.

About three weeks, before the April 1st election, Our America reported spending about another $15,300 for online ads backing Schimel. Three days later, it reported spending over $37,600 for texts and online ads supporting Schimel.

Sixteen days out from the election, the committee reported spending nearly another $4,800 for online advertising in support of Schimel.

Fifteen days before the election, it reported spending about $14,900 for online ads backing Schimel. Three days later, it reported spending nearly another $5,000 for the same. The day after, eleven days from the election, it reported about another $15,600 for online ads backing Schimel.

Eight days from the election, Our America reported spending about another $4,400 for online advertising to support Schimel.

Five days before the election, it reported spending about $27,800 for online advertising and texts backing Schimel.

Three days until the election, the committee reported about another $8,600 towards online advertising.

The day before the election, the group reported about another $10,700 for online advertising to support Schimel. Two days after the election, Our America reported it had spent over another $25,000 on texts and online advertising in the court race.

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 2025 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2025

Posted: March 3, 2025
Updated: March 22, 2025

Oath • Spending

Based in Nashville, Tennessee, the ironically named First Principles Wisconsin first registered to operate as an independent disbursement committee in the state of Wisconsin on January 20, 2025. Nothing is really known about the committee, but its registered email contact shares the same domain as that of Crosby Ottenhoff, LLC, a firm that provides accounting services to political committees.

At the beginning of March, the committee reported its first independent expenditures in the 2025 Wisconsin State Supreme Court election with half a million dollars going towards phone calls, online and television advertising to oppose Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford. Crawford faces Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel in the April 1st election for an open seat on the high court. Since the 2023 spring election, liberals have enjoyed a 4-3 majority on the officially nonpartisan court. The election of Schimel, a former Republican state attorney general and county district attorney, would flip control back to conservatives.

Eleven days before the April election, the group reported spending over $115,000 on television ads opposing Crawford.

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 2025 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2025

Posted: March 4, 2025
Updated: March 25, 2025

Oath • Spending

Based in Evanston, Illinois, Progressive Turnout Project is a federally registered political action committee (PAC) operating as an unregistered independent disbursement committee in the 2025 Wisconsin State Supreme Court election. It works nationwide to elect Democratic candidates. This is the first time it has reported making independent expenditures in a Wisconsin state-level election, but, between 2022 and 2024, the PAC contributed $143,000 to Democratic candidates, legislative campaign committees and the state Democratic party.

At the beginning of the first week in March, the PAC reported spending just over $46,000 on printing and canvassing costs to support Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford for an open position on the state’s high court. Crawford faces Waukesha County Circuit Judge Brad Schimel, in the April 1st election. Liberals hold a 4-3 majority on the officially nonpartisan court won in the 2023 election. The election of Schimel, who previously held posts as state attorney general and Waukesha County district attorney as a Republican, would flip control back to conservatives.

About three weeks before the April 1st election, the committee reported spending $47,700 for field consulting costs in support of Crawford.

Sixteen days out from the election, Progressive Turnout reported another $65,400 for field consuting costs to support Crawford.

Eight days before the election, it reported spending another $94,350 for field consulting in support of Crawford.

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 2025 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2025

Posted: March 7, 2025
Updated: August 7, 2025

Oath • Spending

This is an independent expenditure committee affiliated with the state branch of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which represents health and home care, nursing home, and public service workers. Over the years, SEIU has used numerous state and national political action committees (PACs) and other entities to make independent expenditures to support Democrats and oppose Republicans in Wisconsin state elections. SEIU’s various affiliates spent more than a combined self-disclosed $3.4 million on Wisconsin state elections between 2010 and the end of 2023.

Towards the end of the first week in March, the committee reported it had spent over $12,400*, mostly for social media ads, in the April 1st Wisconsin State Supreme Court election to support Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford, and oppose her opponent, Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel, for an open seat on the high court. Liberals won a 4-3 majority on the officially nonpartisan court in the 2023 election and a Schimel victory – he previously held posts as state attorney general and Waukesha district attorney as a Republican – would have flipped control back to conservatives. Crawford won the election and liberals kept their majority on the court.

About a week after it first reported spending, the state SEIU reported spending about another $230 in support of Crawford.

With twelve days remaining until the April election, the committee reporting spending another $925 in the court campaign. The next day, it reported spending about another $20,200* for online advertising and other expenses to oppose Schimel and support Crawford.

*Initital spending figured revised to match later reporting SEIU. The most recent update (7/16/25 and 8/7/25) makes modest ajdustments to previously reported spending at the beginning and end of the campaign.

Last active election: 2023

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 2025 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2025

Posted: March 8, 2025
Updated: July 16, 2025

Oath • Spending

Based in Shorewood, Wisconsin, the Half Court Political Fund registered with the state of Wisconsin in February of this year to make independent expenditures in Wisconsin’s spring elections. This committee shares its address and treasurer with The Wisco Project PAC, a federally registered political action committee that made independent expenditures in support of Democratic candidates in the 2024 elections. The treasurer for the two committees, Paul Sickel, also serves as political director for SEIU – Wisconsin, the state affiliate of the Service Employees International Union, the union that represents health care, service and public sector workers. The state SEIU has also reported making independent expenditures in the spring elections.

At the end of the first week in March, the Half Court Project reported its first spending in the Wisconsin State Supreme Court election, with about $178,000* going towards online advertising, staffing and campaign literature costs to support of Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford against Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel. The two faced off in the April 1 st election for an open seat on the state’s high court. Liberals held a 4-3 majority on the officially nonpartisan court at the time of the election, a majority they would have lsot with the election of Schimel, a former Republican state attorney general and district attorney. Crawford won and liberals kept their majority.

At the same time, the group reported spending $900 to support incumbent Jill Underly in the Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public Instruction election running concurrently with that of the court. Underly's challenger was educational consultant and former charter school lobbyist Brittany Kinser. Although the superintendent office, like the supreme court, is officially nonpartisan, Underly was backed by Democrats and Kinser by Republicans. Underly won reelection.

By the day of the election, the group had reported spending over $907,000 between the two races with further spending yet to be reported.

*Figures with "*" have been revised to account for amendments filed by the committee.

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 2025 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2025

Posted: March 14, 2025
Updated: April 3, 2025

Oath • Spending

This is an independent expenditure committee created by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin, in 2010 to make independent expenditures on behalf of Democratic candidates for statewide office and the legislature in Wisconsin. Planned Parenthood Advocates is the lobbying arm of the Wisconsin branch of Planned Parenthood, the national organization that advocates for and provides reproductive health services, including abortion. Between 2010 and 2024, the Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin Political Fund alone, excluding all the other active committees associated with Planned Parenthood over the years, spent over $3.67 million in Wisconsin state elections.

Planned Parenthood Advocates first reported making independent expenditures in the 2025 Wisconsin State Supreme Court election with less than three weeks to go until the April 1st spring election. The group reported it had first started spending in favor of Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford and against her opponent, Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel, the last week in February with a mail campaign scheduled to run past the first week in March. Overall, the group reported that it was spending about $234,100* for various mail, phone, canvassing and social media campaigns scheduled to run through the April election.

Crawford and Schimel are vying for an open seat on the state’s officially nonpartisan court, a court in which liberals have enjoyed a 4-3 majority since the April 2023 election. The election of Schimel, who previously served as a county district attorney and state attorney general as a Republican, would give control back to conservatives. More germane to Planned Parenthood’s mission, Schimel is viewed as an abortion opponent and is supported by anti-abortion organization Pro-Life Wisconsin.

Fifteen days out from the April election, the committee reported spending over $226,000 for a mailing program to run through the election to support Crawford and oppose Schimel.

Five days before the election, Planned Parenthood reported spending about another $20,500 for mailers to support Crawford.

The day before the election, it reported about $20,000 for texts. The day after the election, it reported about another $21,300 had been spent for texts and maiing costs.

*Original figured revised per amended report filed by the committee with the Wisconsin State Ethics Commission.

Last active election: 2024

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.