Hijacking Campaign 2026 | Campaign 2026
Posted: July 16, 2026
Updated: August 22, 2026
Based in Florida, Restoration of America PAC* first registered with the state under the name Restoration PAC to make independent expenditures in Wisconsin elections in mid-March 2025 during the middle of the hotly contested Wisconsin State Supreme Court election where it spent a relatively modest $12,500. This is just one of several independent expenditure committees that have been active in Wisconsin over the years that have been financed by Richard Uihlein, the founder of shipping supply business Uline. Uihlein and his wife Elizabeth are both major contributors to Republicans and conservative candidates in the state. Before 2025, Restoration PAC previously operated as an unregistered committee in earlier Wisconsin elections starting in 2022.
Restoration of America PAC is also the name of a super PAC – also named Restoration PAC until recently- 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.
Although the committee reported receiving no income since March 2025 and then showed a cash balance of $0, it still reported spending nearly $2.8 million for television advertising to support U.S. Congressman Tom Tiffany for governor. The Trump-endorsed member of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus faces only token opposition in the August 11th Republican primary from political newcomer Andy Manske. By the end of June, Tiffany enjoyed a cash balance exceeding $2.9 million while his primary opponent only had about $1,300 on hand. Meanwhile, with the retirement of Democratic incumbent Gov. Tony Evers, seven candidates appear on the Democratic primary ballot, although two of them have already dropped out of the race.
Within a few days of filing its initial report, an ad backing Tiffany appeared on YouTube. The ad starts with a picture of John F. Kennedy along with the statement that this is not your parents' "Democrat Party." Alongside pictures of various Democratic politicians, mostly non-white and women, it accuses Democrats of hating America and attacks them on issues of immigration and Trans rights. The ad was attributed to Restoration of America PAC in its disclaimer before it started reporting under that name.
Less than three weeks before the primaries, it reported spending nearly $85,000 for mailings to support Tiffany. This was the first time it reported under the name Restoration of America PAC. At the same time, the committee also reported spending over $8,500 in the Kenosha County sheriff race, which, as a county office, is not tracked by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
Eight days before the August primary, the group reported spending about another $45,200 for mailing costs to support Tiffany. It also spent over $7,000 for the same in the Kenosha County sheriff race.
The day before the primaries, it reported spending $7,000 for phone calls or texts to back Tiffany and $700 for the same in the Kenosha County sheriff contest.
Three days after the primaries, the committee reported spending over another $4 million for television ads to oppose Democratic primary winner Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley in the November 3rd election for governor. An ad appearing on YouTube makes the claim that all "Wisconsin residents" but one, "Milwaukee Taxman" David Crowley, hate to pay taxes. The ad goes on to claim that Crowley raised sales and property taxes in Milwaukee County and would support a "400 year" property tax in Wisconsin.
Ten days after the primaries, the group reported spending over $477,600 for canvassing and campaign literature to support Tiffany in the governor's race.
*This committee first reported spending in the fall 2026 election campaign under its old name, Restoration PAC, only using the name Restoration of America PAC later. Despite the fact that it was already registered as Restoration PAC, Restoration of America PAC operated as an unregistered independent expenditure committee during the 2026 Wisconsin State Supreme Court election. As such, it was not required to divulge its funding sources. In order to differentiate the registered committee, which has been required to reports its income sources since 2025, from that one, and for technical reasons involving site navigation, the name Restoration PAC will still be used for the title of this page and in the independent expenditure database during this election.
Last active election: 2025
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.