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

March 31, 2025

Oath • Spending

Restoration PAC first registered with the state to make independent expenditures in Wisconsin elections in mid-March 2025, two days after the latest campaign finance reporting period ended. As a state-registered committee, Restoration PAC is legally obligated to supply contributor information to the state, but, because of its registration date, it does not need to provide that information until mid-July, more than three months after the spring elections have concluded. Restoration PAC’s registered address and treasurer are identical with those of Fair Courts America, another committee active in the 2025 election and one solely funded by Richard Uihlein, the founder of shipping supply business Uline and, along with his wife Elizabeth, a major financial player in Wisconsin politics. Restoration PAC previously operated as an unregistered committee in earlier Wisconsin elections.

Restoration PAC is also a name of a super PAC registered with the Federal Elections Commission by the Foundation for the Restoration of America to make independent expenditures to support socially and economically conservative candidates. According to the foundation's 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 has been the aforementioned Richard Uihlein. The federal PAC also shares the same treasurer as the state committee.

Two days before the April 1 st election, Restoration PAC reported spending $12,500 for video ads to oppose Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford for the Wisconsin State Supreme Court. Crawford is running against Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel for an open seat on the court. The court is officially nonpartisan, but the state Democratic party supports Crawford and the state GOP Schimel. Schimel held state partisan office as a Republican before his 2018 appointment to the bench by Republican Gov. Scott Walker. Both Schimel’s supporters and opponents among independent spending groups have portrayed him as an ally of President Donald Trump and the Republican agenda. Schimel, himself, has boasted of Trump’s endorsement. Liberals gained a 4-3 majority on the court in the 2023 election, and a Schimel victory gives control back to conservatives.

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

August 7, 2025

Oath • Spending

Based in Milwaukee, Fair Elections Wisconsin, Inc. was first organized in January 2025 and first registered with the Wisconsin State Ethics Commission to make independent expenditures later that March. The organization raised $52,500 from just eight contributors, seven individuals and one corporation. Over half of that sum came from just two contributors, Michael Hupy of the law firm Hupy and Abraham at $20,000 and the Wisconsin Center for Election Justice at $18,000. The latter was established in 2021 and claims that it advocates for “transparent, fair, and accurate elections across the state” of Wisconsin. The registered agent for the Wisconsin Center for Election Justice is Daniel J. Eastman, a Mequon attorney who was involved in Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election.

The committee first reported activity in the April 1st Wisconsin State Supreme Court election at the end of July even though it made its first expenditures in the race in late February, about six weeks before the election. In total, it spent about $48,000 towards online advertising, canvassing, campaign literature and other expenses.

Fair Elections Wisconsin supported Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge and former Republican Wisconsin State Attorney General Brad Schimel against Democratically backed Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford for an open seat on the high court. Going into the election, liberals enjoyed a 4-3 majority on the court that they had won in 2023. A Schimel victory would have given control back to conservatives. Crawford won the contest ensuring liberal control of the court.

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: January 17, 2025
Updated: March 30, 2025

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 2024 the group spent over $23.3 million on issue ads and independent expenditures combined to influence Wisconsin state elections.

In mid-December 2024, the group first reported independent expenditures in the 2025 Wisconsin State Supreme Court election with over $134,000 going towards online advertising, canvassing and campaign literature to support former Republican Wisconsin Attorney General and current Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel’s bid for a vacant seat on the Wisconsin State Supreme Court.

Schimel faces Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford in the April 1^st election, an election that will decide the ideological direction of the high court. Control of the court flipped from conservatives to liberals in the last court election held in 2023 and the retiring justice is a member of the current 4-3 liberal majority.

At the end of the first full week in January, Americans for Prosperity reported spending more than a $1 million for online advertising and canvassing expenses. A week later it reported spending more than another $124,800 for canvassing and doorhangers.

At the beginning of February, it reported spending over another $15,000 for canvassing in the high court election.

A week into February, the committee reported spending over $30,400 for digital ad production and placement in support of Schimel. A few days later it reported spending over $76,500 for mailers and doorhangers. 

At the end of the second week in February, the group reported spending over $72,400 for mailers supporting Schimel. A day after the spring primaries on February 18 it reported spending about another $83,000 for canvassing, doorhangers and mailers in support of Schimel.

At the beginning of the last week in February, Americans for Prosperity reported spending about another $72,400 for mailers opposing Crawford and supporting Schimel.

At the end of February, it reported spending over $109,200 for online advertising opposing Crawford and backing Schimel.

In the first week of March, the committe reported spending over $412,000 for online advertising (here, here and here) and canvassing costs in opposition to Crawford and in support of Schimel.

At the end of the first week in March, it reported spending over $153,000 for mailers and online advertising to support Schimel and oppose Crawford.

About three weeks before the April 1st elections, Americans for Prosperity spent over $110,900, mostly on mailers, to oppose Crawford and support Schimel. Four says later, it reported nearly another $135,000 for mailers against Crawford and for Schimel.

Thirteen days before the election, the group reported spending about $190,000 for canvassing, mailers and online advertising to back Schimel and oppose Crawford.

Eleven days from the April election, the committee reported nearly $202,000 spent for canvassing, mailers and digital ad production costs to support Schimel and oppose Crawford in the court race.

Five days until the election, Americans for Prosperity reported another $22,000 towards canvassing to back Schimel.

With three days remaining until election day, it reported another $150,250 spent on canvassing.

Last active election: 2024

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: February 17, 2025
Updated: April 4, 2025

Oath • Spending

CFC PAC is a newly formed independent expenditure committee* run by the Milwaukee-based City Forward Collective (CFC), the self-professed mission of which is to ensure that all Milwaukee students have access to high-quality schools, a mission which includes support for charter schools. This is the first time the organization has reported independent expenditures in Wisconsin state-level elections, but it reported contributing over $123,000 to Wisconsin politicians and parties at the state level through a conduit between 2023, when it first reported making contributions, and 2024. $91,750, or about 75% of that total, went toward Republican candidates, parties and legislative campaign committees.

Four days before the February 18th primary, the group reported spending over $6,000 for phone calls to support Brittany Kinser for Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction, one of three candidates on the primary ballot. Kinser, an eductional consultant and former lobbyist for the CFC, was challenging first-term incumbent Jill Underly for the officially nonpartisan office. Underly was backed by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin as Kinser was by the state GOP. The third, losing, candidate in the primary, Jeff Wright, also identified as a Democrat. Kinser and Underly went on to face each other in the April 1st election. Underly prevailed in the contest.

A day before the primary, the committee reported that it had spent nearly another $1,400 for phone calls supporting Kinser. Two days after the primary, it reported spending another $4,000 for phone calls.

At the beginning of March CFC PAC reported spending $25,000 for online ads supporting Kinser.

At the end of the second week in March, with less than three weeks remaining until election day, CFC reported spending about another $4,000 for phone calls in support of Kinser.

Twelve days from the election, CFC PAC reported spending over $23,700 for newspaper ads and phone calls to back Kinser and oppose Underly.

Nine days before the election, it reported spending nearly $3,000 for phone calls backing Kinser. The next day, it reported nearly an additional $1,000 for the same.

Five days before the election, CFC PAC reported another $9,000 for phone calls in support of Kinser. A day later, it reported spending about another $4,400 for the same.

The day before the election, the committee reported about another $6,300 for phone calls supporting Kinser. Two days after the election, CFC reported about another $11,400 spent in the race.
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*The committee orginally operated as an unregistered committe but after filing its first two independent expenditure reports, formally registered with the Wisconsin State Ethics Board and reassigned all its previously reported spending to the "new" committee. This means that the committee will have to report all financial actitivty, including its sources of income, to the state of Wisconsin the next time campaign finance reports are due.

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 21, 2025
Updated: April 4, 2025

Oath • Spending

America PAC is a federally registered independent expenditure committee largely funded by Tesla founder and presidential senior advisor Elon Musk. Filings with the Federal Elections Commission show that Musk provided about 90%, or over $238.5 million, of the organization’s 2024 income.

Two days after the spring primaries on February 18th, the committee reported laying aside a million dollars for canvassing and field operations to support Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel for the Wisconsin State Supreme Court. Schimel, who previously served as state attorney general as a Republican, faced Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford for an open seat on the high court. Although the court is officially nonpartisan, Schimel was backed by the GOP and Crawford by the state Democratic party. Moreover, some America PAC's ads made explicit appeal to Republicans and touted President Donald Trump's endorsement of Schimel. As the retiring justice came from the court’s 4-3 liberal majority, the outcome of the election would determine the court’s future ideological direction. Crawford's victory in the April 1st election, should ensure liberal control of the court for at least three more years.

At the beginning of the last week in February, the group reported spending over $447,000 for online advertising and texts opposing Crawford and another $817,800 for campaign literature and canvassing efforts in support of Schimel. Towards the end of that week, it reported spending nearly $292,000 for mailers opposing Crawford and supporting Schimel.

At the end of February, the committee reported spending over $653,000 for mailers and texts in support of Schimel.

Towards the end of the first week in March, America PAC reported spending another million dollars for canvassing and field operations to support Schimel. A day later, it reported spending over $165,000 for phone calls and campaign literature in support of Schimel.

About three weeks before the April 1st election, the PAC spent over another reported $1.8 million for online advertising, mailers and canvassing expenses to back Schimel and oppose Crawford. Two days later, it reported spending over $34,000 texts in support of Schimel. A day later, it reported spending over $308,300 on phone banks and mailers supporting Schimel.

Fifteen days before the April election, America PAC reported spending nearly $805,000 for canvassing, phone calls and texting to support Schimel.

Two weeks before the election, the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign obtained one of the PAC's mailers. The mailer attacks Crawford as "soft-on-crime" and portrays Schimel as an ally of President Donald Trump and his agenda, including a photo of Schimel with Trump and ending with the admonishment to "ELECT Trump conservative Brad Schimel."

Eleven days from election day, America PAC reported spending over a million dollars for mailers, texts and online advertising to back Schimel.

Eight days before the election, the PAC reported spending over $3.14 million on phone calls, texts, emails, online advertising and canvassing ($1.75 million for this alone), to support Schimel. A day later it reported spending over another half a million dollars for texts.

Four days before the election, it reported about $178,400 going towards online advertising, texts and event costs.

A day before the election, America PAC reported over another $50,600 for digital ad production and event costs. The day of the election, it reported spending over $320,000 for phone calls, texts and online advertising.

Two days after the election, the group reported spending over $127,000 for phone calls in the race.

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

February 21, 2025

Oath • Spending

Americas PAC IEO is a conservative Republican super PAC based in Marion, Iowa that spent more than $2.5 million in the 2023-24 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. About 80% of the organization's federally registered PAC's funding in 2024, $2.79 million, came from Restoration PAC, which is funded by Uline founder Richard Uilhein.

The first, and last, time the group reported spending in Wisconsin state-level election, as in 2023 when it spent over $178,000 in the spring Wisconsin State Supreme Court Election.

Two days after the spring primaries on February 18th, the group reported spending over $403,500 for radio ads to support Waukesha Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel bid for a seat on Wisconsin’s high court.

Schimel, who served as the state’s attorney general as a Republican, faces Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford for an open seat on the court in the April 1st election. Since the winner will replace a justice from the court’s current 4-3 majority, the outcome of the election will determine the future ideological balance of the court.

Last active election: 2023

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: February 22, 2025
Updated: March 24, 2025

Oath • Spending

Building America’s Future operates on the state of Wisconsin as an unregistered independent expenditure committee. Its reported address matches the Washington office of law firm Dickson Wright. The organization is registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(4) group, meaning it does not need to report the identity of its contributors, but Tesla founder and presidential senor advisor Elon Musk has been reported as a major donor. During the presidential election the group donated over $33 million to conservative political action committees that supported Donald Trump. It was the principal funder of one such group, Duty to America.

At the end of the third week in February, the group reported spending over $2 million on mailers, online and television advertising to oppose the election of Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford to the Wisconsin State Supreme Court. Crawford faces Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel, who formerly served as the state’s Republican attorney general, for the open seat. Although the court is officially nonpartisan, liberals currently enjoy a 4-3 majority and the election of Schimel would swing control of the court to conservatives.

At the end of the last week in March, the committee reported spending over $1.94 million on television ads and mailers in opposition to Crawford. The mailers attack Crawford for imposing light sentences on child molestors.

Towards the end of the second week in March, and less than three weeks before the April election, it reported spending over half a million dollars for mailers and online advertising against Crawford. 

Two weeks before the election, the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign a second of the PAC's mailers. The mailer attacks Crawford for giving too light a sentence to a man who sexually assaulted a child and urges the rejection of Crawford for the court.

Twelve days from the April election, the group reported spending about another $238,000 for mailers opposing Crawford. The latest mailer continues the same line of attack as the previous ones and bears a strong resemblance to the lastest issue ad video produced by WMC Issues Mobilization Council.

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 4, 2025
Updated: March 8, 2025

Oath • Spending

Based in Arlington, Virginia, American Principles Project PAC is a federally registered political action committee sponsored by the American Principles Project, a think tank that advocates for socially conservative issues. It last reported making independent expenditures in a state-level Wisconsin election in 2023, when it operated as a registered committee. With the 2025 Wisconsin State Supreme Court election the PAC has reverted to operating as an unregistered committee as it first did in the 2022 fall election.*

Filings with the Federal Election Commission show that the single largest donor to the American Principles Project PAC during the 2024 election cycle was Restoration PAC, accounting for more than $10.77 million of the $12.85 million the committee raised during that time. Restoration PAC is solely funded by Uline founder Richard Uihlein. Uihlein also provides financial support for two other committees involved in the 2025 court election, Fair Courts America and Americas PAC IEO.

At the beginning of March, the PAC reported spending $100,000 for online advertising in oppostion to Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford. Crawford is running aginst Waukesha County Circuit Judge Brad Schimel in the April 1st election for an open seat on the state's highest court. 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.

At the end of the first week in March, the PAC reported spending $400,000 for online advertising opposing Crawford.

*Registered committees are legally required to report all financial activities and sources of income to the state. Unregistered committees are only required to report election expenditures made within sixty days of a primary or an election.

Last active election: 2023

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

March 5, 2025

Oath • Spending

Pro-Life Wisconsin, Inc. is a Brookfield, Wis. based organization opposed to abortion. To that aim it is registered with the state as a lobbying principal and maintains a political action committee (PAC), Pro-Life WI Victory Fund, which makes campaign contributions to candidates for state office, all of whom have been Republican since 2010. The PAC itself has reported making independent expenditures in state elections in the past but not since 2010.

During the first week in March, the organization reported spending over $3,700 for printing and postage costs to support Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel for the Wisconsin State Supreme Court. Schimel faces Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford in the April 1st election for an open seat on the high court. Liberals won a 4-3 majority on the officially nonpartisan court in 2023. The election of Schimel, a former Republican state attorney general, would flip control back to conservatives.

Last active election: 2010

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 5, 2025
Updated: July 16, 2025

Oath • Spending

Based in New York City, ACLU Voter Education Fund is a political action committee (PAC) set up by the American Civil Liberties Union that first registered with the Federal Elections Commission in March 2024 with the expressed goal of informing the public about civil liberty issues in the 2024 federal election. The PAC registered with the state of Wisconsin at the end of February 2025 as an independent disbursement committee although the PAC’s website, and reports filed with the state, claim it does not endorse or oppose candidates.

Towards the beginning of March, the committee reported spending over a million dollars, mostly for radio, online advertising, and videos, to support Wisconsin State Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford. Crawford, a Dane County Circuit Court judge, faced Waukesha County Circuit Judge Brad Schimel in the April 1st election for an open seat on the state’s highest court. At the time of the election, liberals held a 4-3 majority on the officially nonpartisan court, a majority gained in the 2023 court election. The election of Schimel, who previously served as state attorney general and Waukesha district attorney as a Republican, would have shifted control of the court to conservatives. Crawford won the election and liberals kept their majority. 

Each expenditure on the committee’s reports is accompanied by the same disclaimer: “The filer does not endorse or oppose candidates. The expenditures being reported in this filing were in opposition or in support of one or more of the positions of the candidates identified on critical civil liberties issues.”

In July, the ACLU reported spending about an additional $400 for media consulting in the 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.