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

March 22, 2025

Oath • Spending

This is a liberal social justice group based in San Francisco, Calif., that is closely associated with the Tides Foundation, which was created in the mid-1970s. Tides’ advocacy includes human rights, immigration, labor, health, and environmental issues. The group previously made independent expenditures in Wisconsin’s 2020 and 2023 supreme court elections. In the latter race, it supported a candidate who did not make it pass the February primary.

Eleven days before the spring elections on April 1st, Tides Advocacy reported spending over $79,300 for phone banks, campaign literature and canvassing split evenly between the Wisconsin State Supreme Court and State Superintendent of Public Instruction races. In the former it rsupports Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford for an open seat on the court. She faces Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel. While the court is officially nonpartisan, Crawford is backed by the state Democratic party, and Schimel, who previously served as Wisconsin State Attorney General as a Republican, by the state GOP. Liberals gained a 4-3 majority on the court in the April 2023 election, but the election of Schimel would give control back to conservatives.

The group supports the first term incumbent, Jill Underly, in the superintendent of public instruction contest. Underly’s challenger is educational consultant and former charter school advocate Brittany Kinser. Like the supreme court, the office is nominally nonpartisan, but the state Democratic party supports Underly and Republicans Kinser.

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: March 23, 2025
Updated: April 4, 2025

Oath • Spending

Organized in 2019, Blue Sky Waukesha, Inc. is a liberal leaning group based, as its name implies, in Waukesha County. It first made independent expenditures in the 2020 Wisconsin State Supreme Court election. Between 2020 and 2024, it spent about $139,000 on outside electioneering activities in state-level elections in Wisconsin.

Ten days from the April 1st elections, the group first reported making independent expenditures in the Wisconsin State Supreme Court and State Superintendent of Public Instruction races. It spent over $11,700 on postcards in the former contest to support Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford. Although the court is officially nonpartisan, the state Democratic party backed Crawford and the state GOP her opponent, Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel, himself a former Republican office holder. The two were in competition to replace a retiring liberal justice on a court where liberals won a 4-3 majority in the 2023 election; the election of Schimel would have given control back to conservatives. With Crawford's victory, liberals should maintain control of the court for at least the next three years.

Blue Sky Waukesha spent over $4,000 on postcards backing incumbent Jill Underly for superintendent of public instruction. Underly, first elected in 2021, faces challenger Brittany Kinser, an educational consultant and former charter school lobbyist. Like the high court, the office is officially nonpartisan, but support for the two contestants divided along partisan lines with Democrats supporting Underly and Republicans Kinser. Underly won reelection.

The day of the election, Blue Sky reported spending about $20,600 for postcards between the two races. Two days after the election, it reported spending about another $2,500 for online advertising between the two contests.

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

March 25, 2025

Oath • Spending

Based in Washington, D.C., SD PAC, otherwise known as the Save Democracy PAC, is a super PAC registered with the Federal Elections Commission. It works to elect Democrats at the federal and state levels through independent expenditures and campaign contributions. The committee made over $1 million in independent expenditures to support Democrats and oppose Republicans in the 2024 federal elections. This is the first time it has reported independent expenditure activity in a Wisconsin state election.

Eight days before the April 1st election, the PAC first reported making independent in the Wisconsin State Supreme Court race where it spent about $75,000 on mailers to oppose Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel. Schimel is running against Dane County Circuit Court Judge for a seat being vacated by a member of the court’s 4-3 liberal majority. The election of Schimel, who formerly served as state attorney general as Republican, would give control of the court to conservatives. Consequently, despite the officially nonpartisan status of the court, Schimel has drawn the support of the state GOP along with a host of conservative special interest groups, as Crawford has the state Democratic party and liberal leaning organizations.

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 26, 2025

Oath • Spending

This is an unregistered independent expenditure committee used by the Wisconsin chapter of the American Federation of Teachers to support Democrats and left-leaning candidates in legislative and statewide races. The American Federation of Teachers represents professional public employees, including teachers.

The committee first reported making independent expenditures in the Wisconsin State Supreme Court race a week before the April 1st election. It spent $13,000 on mailers to support Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford for an open seat on the court. Although the court is officially nonpartisan, Crawford is supported by the state Democratic party as her opponent, Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel, is by the state GOP. Liberals have held a 4-3 majority on the court since the 2023 elections. The election of Schimel, who previously served as state attorney general as a Republican, would flip 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 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2025

Posted: March 28, 2025
Updated: April 2, 2025

Oath • Spending

Based in Washington, D.C. this Democratic group seeks to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 Citzens United decision, the very decision that has enabled the exponential growth of independent spending in recent elections and which End Citizens United exploits in its efforts to overturn it. The group runs a federal PAC and a 527 group of the same name to raise and spend money to support pro-reform candidates, advocate for reform, and support pro-reform ballot measures at the state level. The group first, and last, made independent expenditures in a Wisconsin state election in 2018.

Five days before the April 1st election, the group first reported making independent expenditure in the 2025 Wisconsin State Supreme Court election with about $12,000 going towards online advertising to oppose Wakesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel. Schimel and his opponent, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford, were seeking election to an open seat on the state’s high court. Although the court is officially nonpartisan, the state GOP backed Schimel and the state Democratic party Crawford. Indeed, many advertisements run by independent expenditure groups, whether they back or oppose Schimel, portrayed the former Republican state attorney general as an ally of Republican President Donald Trump and his agenda. Moreover, the election of Schimel would have flipped the court from a 4-3 liberal majority to a conservative one. Crawford's victory means that liberals maintain control of the court for at least the next three years.

A day before the election, it reported another $3,600 for online advertising to oppose Schimel. The day of the election, it reported $20,700 for more online advertising against Schimel.

Last active election: 2018

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 29, 2025
Updated: April 2, 2025

Oath • Spending

Founded in 1979 by Nan Aron, the Alliance for Justice is a coalition of liberal-leaning groups that works to promote the election and appointment of progressive and left-leaning judges. It made independent expenditures in the last two Wisconsin State Supreme Court election although it operated under a slightly different name the first time, in 2020.

Four days before the election on April 1 st, Alliance for Justice first reported spending in the 2025 supreme court election, with nearly $1,700 going towards online advertising and staff expenses. The committee supported Dane County Judge Susan Crawford against Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel for an open seat on the state’s highest court. Although the court is officially nonpartisan, the state Democratic party backed Crawford and the GOP Schimel. Schimel formerly served as Wisconsin State Attorney General as a Republican, and both his supporters and opponents in the campaign portrayed him as an ally of President Donald Trump and the Republican agenda. The court gained a 4-3 liberal majority inthe April 2023 election, and the election of Schimel would have shifted control of the court back to conservatives. Crawford's victory should give liberals control of the court for at least the next three years.

The day of the election the Alliance reported spending about $8,900 for 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 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2025

Posted: March 29, 2025
Updated: April 4, 2025

Oath • Spending

Turning Point PAC Inc. is the federally registered political action committee (PAC) controlled by Turning Point Action, a non-profit organization founded in 2019 and based in Phoenix, Arizona that works to elect “true conservatives” to office through grassroots organizing. It is an affiliate of Turning Point USA, founded in 2012, that advocates for conservative politics in schools and colleges. It made more than $1.38 million in independent expenditures to support Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential campaign.

The PAC first reported spending in the 2025 Wisconsin State Supreme Court race four days before the April 1 st election with about $6,500 going towards campaign literature and text messages to support Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel. Schimel, a former Republican state attorney general, was running against Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford for an open seat on the court. While the court is officially nonpartisan, the State GOP supported Schimel just as the state Democratic party backed his opponent. Moreover, both Schimel’s supporters and detractors in the campaign portrayed him as a Trump ally, as he did himself. Liberals had enjoyed a 4-3 majority on the court since the April 2023 election. Crawford's victory prevented a conservative takeover of the court.

The day before the election, Turning Point reported about $29,000 for texts backing Schimel.

Two days after the election, the group reported spending nearly another $9,200 for 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.

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

Posted: March 29, 2025
Updated: April 4, 2025

Oath • Spending

Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for All, Inc. filed articles of incorporation with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions in March 2024. The corporation’s listed address matches that of a UPS store and its agent is the Milwaukee law firm Godfrey and Kahn. The corporation does not have a political action committee (PAC) registered with the state or the Federal Elections Commission, but filings with the latter show that it made independent expenditures in the 2024 federal elections to support Democratic State Rep. Katrina Shankland for congress. This is the first time it has made independent expenditures as the state level.

Four days before the 2025 Wisconsin State Supreme Court election on April 1st, the corporation reported spending about $11,800 towards texts to support Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford. Crawford and Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel were competing for an open seat on the court. Although the court is officially nonpartisan, the state Democratic party supported Crawford and the state GOP Schimel. Schimel, who served a term as Wisconsin State Attorney General as a Republican, was portrayed as an ally to President Donald Trump and the Republican agenda by his supporters and detractors alike. He did the same in his own advertising. Liberals had won a 4-3 majority in the 2023 election, and conservatives would have regained control of the court with a Schimel victory. Crawford's victory means liberals maintain control of the court.

Two days after the election, Wisconsin for All reported about another $11,000 for phone calls to support 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

April 1, 2025

Oath • Spending

An organization devoted to liberal causes, MoveOn was started in opposition to the impeachment of Democratic President Bill Clinton in 1998. MoveOn's political action committee is based in Washington, D.C. and registered with the Federal Elections Commission, although it has operated as unregistered committee in Wisconsin state elections since the 2018 gubernatorial election. It first made independent expenditures in Wisconsin with a different committee in the 2011 recall elections, when it was obligated to register with the state under then existing state election law.

A day before the April 1st election, MoveOn reported spending about $3,600, mostly for phone calls, to support Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford in the 2025 Wisconsin State Supreme Court race. Although the court is officially nonpartisan, the state Democratic party and Democratic-leaning groups back Crawford as the state GOP and Republican-leaning organizations her opponent, Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel. Furthermore, Schimel served as Wisconsin State Attorney General as a Republican his appointment to the bench in 2018, and his own campaign ads boast of his endorsement by President Donald Trump. The two are competing for a seat being vacated by a member of the court’s 4-3 liberal majority. Schimel’s election would give control 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 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Campaign 2025

April 1, 2025

Oath • Spending

Based in suburban Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance was created in October 2019 to represent Muslim political interests and encourage Muslim political participation. It previously made independent expenditures, under a slightly different name, in Wisconsin state-level elections with the 2020 legislative elections and the 2021 state superintendent of public instruction election. It last made independent expenditures in a Wisconsin state election under its current name in the 2024 fall elections.

The day before the April 1st elections, the group reported spending over $7,700, mostly towards outdoor advertising, in the 2025 Wisconsin State Supreme Court and State Superintendent of Public Instruction races.

In the high court contest, it supports Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford against Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel. Although the court is officially nonpartisan, the state Democratic party supports Crawford and the state GOP Schimel. Schimel held state office as a Republican before joining the bench. Moreover, ads by independent spending groups on both sides of the ideological divide have portrayed the candidates in a partisan light, and Schimel has even touted his endorsement by President Donald Trump in his own campaign ads The two are competing for a seat being vacated by a member of the court’s 4-3 liberal majority; conservatives would gain control of the court with a Schimel victory.

In the other race, the group supports first-term incumbent Jill Underly against Brittany Kinser, an educational consultant and former charter school lobbyist. As with the court, the position is officially nonpartisan but state Democrats back Underly while Republicans support Kinser.

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.