Hijacking Campaign 2025

Hijacking Campaign 2025 - Information on VoteVets

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March 15, 2025

OathSpending

Based in Portland, Oregon, VoteVets is an organization that seeks to advance the interests of military veterans through the promotion of progressive legislation and candidate endorsements. The group has a federally registered political action committee (PAC) that is active nationwide. VoteVets was first, and last, active in Wisconsin state politics with the 2023 supreme court election.

Less than three weeks before the April 1st election day, VoteVets reported spending over $57,600 towards online advertising to oppose Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel’s candidacy for the Wisconsin State Supreme Court. Although the court is officially nonpartisan, Schimel, formerly a Republican district attorney and state attorney general, is backed by the Republican Party and his opponent, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford, by the Democrats. Liberals hold a 4-3 majority on the court gained in the 2023 election; Schimel’s election would deliver control back to conservatives.

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 - Information on Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund Inc. PAC

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Posted: March 15, 2025
Updated: March 18, 2025

OathSpending

Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund Inc. PAC is a New York-based federally registered political action committee run by Everytown for Gun Safety, a tax-exempt nonprofit that promotes gun safety education and gun control legislation through lobbying, community organizing, political contributions and other election activities. Everytown has a federally registered independent expenditure committee that spent over $7.47 million to support Democrats in 2024’s federal elections.

Less than three weeks before the April 1st election day, Everytown first reported making independent expenditures in the 2025 Wisconsin State Supreme Court election, with $600,000 going toward television ads to oppose Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel. Although the Wisconsin high court is officially nonpartisan, Schimel, a former Republican state attorney general, is supported by the state GOP and his opponent, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford, by the Democrats. Schimel is also backed by the National Rifle Association (NRA), the nation's most prominent pro-gun lobby. The two candidates are vying for an open seat on a court where liberals have enjoyed a 4-3 majority since 2023; Schimel’s election would give control back to conservatives.

Everytown's television ad campaign started airinig about 15 days before the election, and criticizes Schimel for adhering to an extreme agenda that includes oppostion to abortion rights and hostility to gun safety measures.

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 - Information on For Our Future

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Posted: March 16, 2025
Updated: April 7, 2025

OathSpending

This Washington D.C. group supports Democratic candidates for federal and state offices. Between 2016, when it was first active in the state, and 2024 it reported spending over $2.6 million in both partisan and non-partisan in Wisconsin state-level elections. It has done all its spending through "unregistered" committees, meaning it does not need to report its sources of income to the Wisconsin Ethics Commission, the state agency that monitors and regulates campaign spending. This is the third committee bearing this name. All three of these committees have had different D.C.-based addresses. This current iteration shares a post office box with Bold Majority PAC.

Less than three weeks before the April 1 st spring elections, the PAC first reported spending over $53,800 for canvassing expenses in the Wisconsin State Supreme Court and State Superintendent of Public Instruction races combined, with $35,900 spent in the former and about $17,950 in the latter. The committee supported Dane County Cicuit Court Judge Susan Crawford in the former contest and incumbent Jill Underly in the latter.

Crawford ran against Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel for an open seat on the high court. Although the court is officially nonpartisan, Crawford was supported by Democrats and Schimel, who served as the state’s Republican attorney general just before his appointment to the judiciary, by the GOP. At the time of the election, liberals had a 4-3 majority on the court won in the 2023 election, and the election of Schimel would have handed control back to conservatives. Crawford's victory should ensure liberal control of the court for at least three more years

The office of Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public Instruction is also officially nonpartisan but Underly, who was first elected in 2021, was supported by the state Democratic party while her opponent, educational consultant and former charter school lobbyist Brittany Kinser received Republican backing. Underly won reelection.

Nine days before the April elections, For Our Future reported spending over $78,400 between the two races for canvassing and campaign literature, with about $54,100 spent backing Crawford and $24,300 Underly. The next day, it reported another $15,100 in the court race and $5,400 in the other.

Four days before election day, the group reported $11,000 going for texts in the superintendent of public instruction contest.

The day of the election, For Our Future reported spending $60,000 on phone calls in the two races. The day after the election, it reported spending $6,800 more on texts to support Crawford in the court race and $300 on texts to back Underly's reelection as state superintendent of public instruction.

Two days after the election, it reported it had spent about another $4,900 on texts supporting Underly.

Three days after election day, the group reported it had spent about another $6,000 on texts backing Crawford.

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 - Information on Hunter Nation Inc.

Hijacking Campaign 2025 | Independent ExpendituresIssue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2025

Posted: March 18, 2025
Updated: April 4, 2025

OathSpending

Based in Mission, Kansas, this rightward leaning organization touts itself as an advocate for the country's "hunting heritage." Among the organization's key issues are gun ownership and wolf hunting. The group's national spokesperson, rock musician Ted Nugent, was on the board of the National Rifle Association (NRA) for 26 years. Among its board members is the Republican attorney general for Kansas Kris Kobach.

In mid-March, the organization announced that it planned to spend over $1.8 million to back Waukesha County Circuit Court and former Republican state attorney general Brad Schimel for Wisconsin State Supreme Court. The group claims its campaign for Schimel will include videos featuring elected officials and well-known celebrities. One such video features Donald Trump, Jr., and another, the organization’s founder Keith Mark, endorsing Schimel for the court. The group had already sponsored a “virtual campfire” with Schimel that was co-hosted by Nugent in late February before announcing the campaign.

Schimel faced Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford for an open seat on the state’s high court. Although the court is officially nonpartisan, Schimel was backed by the state GOP and Crawford by the Democrats. Liberals won a 4-3 majority on the court in the 2023 election; the election of Schimel would have given control back to conservatives. Crawford won and liberals kept their majority.

Six days after announcing its campaign for Schimel, and 13 days before the election, the group filed its first spending reports with the state. The reports show that the group started spending on March 12 with about $338,000 going to a direct mail campaign supporting Schimel. So far, the group reports spending over $392,500 for online advertising in support of the conservative court candidate. 

A week from the election, Hunter Nation reported spending about $385,000 on texts, phone calls and online advertising to back Schimel.

Two days after the election, the organization reported it had spent nearly another $54,000 for texts and phone calls in the race.

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 - Information on Free and Fair Democracy PAC

Hijacking Campaign 2025 | Independent ExpendituresIssue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2025

March 19, 2025

OathSpending

Based in Washington, D.C., Free and Fair Democracy PAC is a federally registered political action committee that works to elect Democrats. According to the organization’s website, it opposes “Republicans that attack our Democracy.” In the 2024 elections, it made independent expenditures opposing Donald Trump and a Republican incumbent in a California congressional district. This is the first time the PAC has reported activity in a Wisconsin state election.

The group first reported making independent expenditures two weeks before the April 1st Wisconsin State Supreme Court election when it spent $24,000 for online advertising to oppose Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel. Schimel and Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford are vying for an open seat on the state’s highest court. Even though the court is officially nonpartisan, Schimel, a former Republican state attorney general, is backed by the state GOP and Crawford by the Democrats. Liberals have a 4-3 majority on the court gained in the 2023 election, and a Schimel victory would give control back to conservatives.

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 - Information on Indivisible Action

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Posted: March 7, 2025
Updated: July 16, 2025

OathSpending

(Note: This profile was originally posted under the name Indivisible before the committee had reported independent expenditures to the state.)

Indivisible Action is the federally registered  political action committee (PAC) run by Indivisible, a nationally active organization created in response to the first election of President Donald Trump in 2016. It supports Democrats and other candidates who oppose Trump’s political agenda. Indivisible Action operates as an unregistered committee in Wisconsin and backed the winning candidates in the 2020 and 2023 state supreme court elections through independent spending.

Before the group reported making independent expenditures in the 2025 Wisconsin State Supreme Court election, it had already started recruiting volunteers to make phone calls to solicit votes for candidate Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford. Crawford and her opponent, Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel, were vying for an open seat on the high court. Although the court is officially nonpartisan, Crawford was supported by Democrats and Schimel by Republicans. Furthermore, Schimel, a former Republican state attorney general, portrayed as an ally of President Donald Trump by both his supporters and his opponents in the camaign. Liberals would have lost their 4-3 majority on the court with the election of Schimel. Crawford won and the liberals retained control of the court.

Thirteen days before the election April 1st election, the committee reported spending $3,800 towards the phone campaign mentioned above. In July, it reported that it had spent over another $28,600 for the same

 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 - Information on CatholicVote.org Candidate Fund

Hijacking Campaign 2025 | Independent ExpendituresIssue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2025

March 21, 2025

OathSpending

CatholicVote.org Candidate Fund is a federally registered super PAC based in Madison run by the socially conservative CatholicVote.org. According to its website, the organization’s mission is “to inspire every Catholic in America to live out the truths of [their] faith in public life.” The organization has no official ties to the Catholic Church. According to filings with the Federal Elections Commission, the committee made over $800,000 in independent expenditures favoring Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. This is the first time it has reported making independent expenditures in a Wisconsin state election.

Twelve days before the April 1st Wisconsin State Supreme Court election, the committee reported spending over $30,700 for online advertising and phone calls to support Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge for an open seat on the court. Although the seat is officially nonpartisan, Schimel, a former Republican state attorney general, is supported by the state Republican party, and his opponent, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford, by the Democrats. Independent support for the candidates follows similar ideological lines, with groups such as the National Rifle Association and Pro-Life Wisconsin supporting Schimel and labor and liberal-leaning groups, such as Planned Parenthood, backing Crawford. Liberals won control of the court in the 2023 election; a Schimel victory would hand control back to conservatives.

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 - Information on In This Together PAC

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Posted: March 22, 2025
Updated: March 23, 2025

OathSpending

Based in Louisville, Kentucky, In This Together PAC is a federally registered political action committee (PAC) affiliated with the Democratic governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear. According to the PAC’s website, it supports candidates for federal, state, and local offices in red and purple states. This is the first time it has been active in a Wisconsin state election.

Eleven days before the April 1 st election, the PAC reported spending over $97,200 for mailers supporting Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford against Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge for an open seat on the Wisconsin State Supreme Court. Nominally a nonpartisan office, elections for the high court have taken on an increasingly partisan cast over the years. In this election Crawford is supported by the state Democratic party and a variety of Democratic leaning independent spending groups. Conversely, Schimel, a former Republican office holder, is backed by the state GOP and a host of groups that favor Republicans. The court has had a 4-3 liberal majority since 2023; a Schimel victory would return control to conservatives.

A day after it first reported making independent expenditures in the court race, it reported spending about another $46,300 for mailers backing Crawford and opposing Schimel.

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 - Information on Patriots for a Brighter America

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March 22, 2025

OathSpending

Based in Alexandria, Virginia, Patriots for a Brighter America is a super PAC registered with the Federal Elections Commission. During the 2023-2024 election cycle, all the PAC’s income came from one donor, Philip M. Schoenfeld, the owner of a property management firm in Norfolk, Virginia named Capital Associates. The PAC spent over $717,000 to support Republican candidates around the country in the 2024 federal elections. This is the first time it has reported activity in a Wisconsin state election.

Eleven days before the April 1st election, the PAC reported spending $9,800 to oppose Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford for the Wisconsin State Supreme Court. Her opponent is Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel. Although the court is officially nonpartisan, Crawford is supported by the state Democratic party and Schimel, who once served as state attorney general as a Republican, by the state GOP. Liberals won a 4-3 majority on the court in 2023; a Schimel victory hands control back to conservatives.

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 - Information on Charter School Action Fund

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Posted: March 22, 2025
Updated: April 2, 2025

OathSpending

The Charter School Action Fund has the same address as the Washington, D.C. based National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, an organization that advocates for the interests of charter schools. A political action committee (PAC) with an identical address and similar name, Charter Schools Action Fund, is registered with the Federal Elections Commission and was active in the 2022 federal elections. There is also a website for a Charter Schools Action Fund, but there is not enough information on the site to determine if it has any links to the previously mentioned organizations despite the similar names and missions. Furthermore, registration information for the site is private. This is the first time a committee by this name has reported independent expenditures in a Wisconsin State Election.

Eleven days before the April 1 st election for Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public Instruction, the committee reported spending over $39,500 for mailers and online advertising to support challenger Britanny Kinser. An educational consultant and former charter school lobbyist, Kinser sought to unseat incumbent Jill Underly, who was first elected in 2021. Although the office is nominally nonpartisan, Kinser and Underly weresupported by the state Republican and Democratic parties, respectively. Underly won reelection.

Four days before the election, it reported about another $17,900 for phone calls and online advertising to support Kinser. The day of the election, it reported about another $3,300 for phone calls and texts.

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.