Hijacking Campaign 2026 | Campaign 2026

Posted: February 5, 2026
Updated: August 25, 2026

Organizations making independent expenditures supporting or opposing candidates in the fall partisan state and spring 2026 Wisconsin State Supreme Court elections.

Click on a committee's name for more information.

PDF Fall PAC Totals | PDF Fall Office Totals | PDF Spring Totals

All reported spending in the high court election can be found by here. Click here for a PDF of office and PAC spring totals. 

Hijacking Campaign 2026 | Campaign 2026

Posted: February 5, 2026
Updated: August 21, 2026

Organizations making issue ads supporting or opposing candidates in the 2026 fall partisan and spring Wisconsin State Supreme Court elections.

Click on a committee's name for more information.

Hijacking Campaign 2026 | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2026

Posted: February 5, 2026
Updated: August 25, 2026

Independent expenditures in the fall 2026 partisan elections and the officially nonpartisan 2026 Wisconsin State Supreme Court election.

Fall election candidates listed first, alphabetically by last name followed by spring candidates .

If there is a link, click on a candidate's name to see any independent expenditures reported as explicitly for or against that candidate. If no such spending has been reported, there will be no link. Click on the office name for all spending in that office, if any.

Click on the office link to see all independent expenditures spent on that office if any. A page documenting updates can be found here.

Party Key: Dem=Democrat, Grn=Wisconsin Green, Ind=Independent or Third Party without ballot status, NP=Nonpartisan, Rep=Republican

(2) Second candidate in our database by this name or candidate running with a second committee. As of 2015, candidates are allowed to have two active committees at a time to run for different state offices.

Posted: February 5, 2026
Updated: August 25, 2026

A guide to independent expenditures and issue ads in the 2026 Wisconsin State Supreme Court election and fall partisan elections.

For information about candidate financial activity see Campaign 2026. For a detailed list of updates go here.

Hijacking Campaign 2026 | Campaign 2026

Posted: March 11, 2026
Updated: April 1, 2026

Spring: Oath • Spending

Judicial Action Network is an organization formed late in 2025 and whose sole purpose is to place liberal justices on state supreme courts across the nation. While the committee has a federally registered committee, it operates as an unregistered express advocacy group in Wisconsin. Both the federal and state committees are run from the offices of a Democratic political consulting group based in Lowell, Massachusetts, North Side Ventures. The designated agent for both is Ben Martello, the company’s owner and a former aide to Democratic Rep. Niki Tsongas.

Four weeks from the April 7th Wisconsin State Supreme Court election, the committee reported spending about $14,500 in the campaign for television and video production to support Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge Chris Taylor for an open seat on the state’s highest court. The former Democratic state legislator and Dane County-based judge faces fellow appeals court judge Maria Lazar. Taylor already enjoys independent backing from a number of liberal groups while Lazar, based in the conservative bastion of Waukesha, enjoys support from at least one such conservative group. Lazar first won her current position with the help of independent backing by conservative groups. If Taylor wins the election, liberals will enjoy a five-seat majority on the officially nonpartisan seven-member court. 

Three weeks before election day, the group reported spending $5,000 for television ads.

Two weeks before the election, Judicial Action Network reported another $5,000 spent on television advertising.

A week before the election, it reported $2,500 more for television ads.

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 2026 | Campaign 2026

Posted: February 5, 2026
Updated: August 15, 2026

Fall: Oath • Spending
Spring: Oath • Spending

Wisconsin Conservation Voters, a statewide environmental advocacy group, first created this committee to make independent expenditures in the fall 2018 state elections. Between 2018 and 2025, this committee reported spending over $9.4 million in state-level partisan and nonpartisan elections. This is the fourth committee the group has used to make independent expenditures since 2010.

Fall Election

Conservation Voters first reported spending in the the 2026 fall state partisan elections, three days after the August 11th primaries. It reported spending nearly $232,000 for canvassing expenses and campaign literature to support Democrats in three races: Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley for governor, Trevor Young for the open seat in the 21st State Senate and challenger Ben Brist in the 61st Assembly. The election is on November 3rd. 

Spring Election

In mid-January, Conservation Voters reported spending over $4,300 to print brochures for distribution in mid-February to support Wisconsin State Supreme Court candidate Chris Taylor in the April 7th election. Taylor, a former state Democratic legislator and then a a Court of Appeals judge based in Dane County, faced  Waukesha-based Court of Appeals Judge Maria Lazar for a vacant seat on the state's highest court. Lazar first gained her current post with the help of independent spending by conservative groups. The retiring justice, Rebecca Bradley, was a member of the officially nonpartisan court's three-seat conservative minority. Taylor's victory by in the April electioin delivered liberals a 5-2 court majority.

The day before the spring primaries on February 17, although there was none for the high court, the committe reported spending about $10,500 for postage.

At the beginning of the third week in March, about three weeks before the election. Wisconsin Conservation Voters reported spending another $13,000 for postage.

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.

Hijacking Campaign 2026 | Campaign 2026

Posted: February 16, 2026
Updated: August 21, 2026

Fall: Oath • Spending
Spring: 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 2025, the Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin Political Fund alone, excluding all the other active committees associated with Planned Parenthood over the years, spent nearly  $4.2 million in Wisconsin state-level  elections.

Fall Election

Nine days after the August 11th primaries, Planned Parenthood first reported spending in the fall state partisan elections with about $9,300 going towards campaign literature to support the Democratic candidates in the races for governor and state attorney general. In the former, it supports Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley against GOP Congressman Tom Tiffany, a Trump endorsee. Democratic incumbent Gov. Tony Evers is not seeking reelection.. In the attorney general's race, it supports two-term incumbent Attorney General Josh Kaul. He faces Fond du Lac District Attorney Eric Toney in a rematch of their 2022 contest.

Spring Election

In mid-February the committee first reported spending in the 2026 Wisconsin State Supreme Court election with about $6,500* for canvass literature supporting Court of Appeals Judge Chris Taylor in the April 7th election for an open seat in the state's highest court. The Dane County based Taylor, a former Democratic state legislator, faced fellow appellate court judge Maria Taylor. The Waukesha-based Taylor first won her office with substantial independent spending by conservative groups. The retiring justice, Rebecca Bradley, is a member of the court's three-seat conservative minority. Taylor's victory gives liberals a 5-2 majority on the officially nonpartisan court.

With six weeks to go until the April election, Planned Parenthood reported spending about another $2,700 for canvassing related costs in the high court election.

At the end of February, Planned Parenthood reported spending about another $60 in the election. At the beginning of March it reported spending about another $3,600 for canvassing in the campaign.

At the end of the first week in March, the group reported spending about another $6,300 for canvassing expenses in support of Taylor. At the beginning of the second week in March, 29 days out from the election, it reported spending about another $2,700 for canvassing.

About three and a half weeks before the April election, Planned Parenthood reported nearly another $24,000 towards canvassing to support Taylor. At the end of the second week in in March it reported another $2,700 for canvassing related expenses.

At the beginning of the third week in March, it reported about another $1,300 for canvassing costs. A day later, exactly three weeks before election day, Planned Parenthood reported about another $9,900 for canvassing and consulting fees. At the end of that wek, it reported spending about another $5,400 for canvassing.

Fifteen days out from the April 7th election, Planned Parenthood reported about another $6,000** for canvassing. A few days later it reported about another $14,400, mostly for canvassing.

Nine days before the election, the group reported over another $3,500 for canvassing in the campaign. A day later it reported about another $7,300 for canvassing related expenses.

Seven days from the election, it reported spending about another $6,200 for canvassing. Five days out from election day, it reported nearly another $2,100 on canvassing.

The Friday before the election on April 7, the committee reported spending over another $7,000 for canvassing.

The evening before election day, Planned Parenthood reported spending nearly $4,000 on canvassing and campaign literature.

The day of the election, it reported spending over $8,400 on canvassing. Two days after the election, it reported over another $9,800 for canvassing-related expenses.

*Revised from orginally posted figures as all independent expenditure reports filed by this committee were not yet publicly available at the time of original publication.

**Revised to account for an amended report filed by the committee.

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.

Hijacking Campaign 2026 | Campaign 2026

Posted: February 24, 2026
Updated: August 25, 2026

Fall: Oath • Spending
Spring: Oath • Spending

Democracy First PAC first registered to make independent expenditures in Wisconsin elections at the beginning of February 2026. The Evanston, Illinois based organization also has a similarly named federally registered PAC that has been active since 2022. The treasurer for both the state and federal PACs is Harry Pascal, the founder of the Progressive Turnout Project. The political action committee (PAC) is the campaign arm of democracyFIRST, an organization formed in 2021 to combat authoritarianism and promote democracy which it does by backing pro-democracy candidates in elections at all level of government.

As of August 2026, the committee has reported receiving no income. Its last full campaign finance report on file with the Wisconsin State Ethics Commission shows a negative cash balance exceeding $287,000.

Fall Election

Despite the committee's lack of funds as cited above, on the last Monday in August, it reported spending nearly $35,000 for door hangers and campaign staff to support Democrat JoCasta Zamarripa for Wisconsin Secretary of State. A Milwaukee City alder and former state legislator, Zamarripa faces Republican and self-described "MAGA activist" Jay Schroeder for the open seat. The current incumbent, Democrat Sarah Godlewski, appointed to that position by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, is running for lieutenant governor.

Spring Election

At the beginning of the last week in February, the committee reported spending about $20,000 in a dozen local elections, with $1,270 going towards canvassing in the 2026 Wisconsin State Supreme Court election. The group supported former Democratic state legislator and Dane County Court of Appeals Judge Chris Taylor in the April 7th election. Taylor faced fellow Court of Appeals Judge Maria Lazar of Waukesha for an open seat on the high court. Taylor’s victory gave liberals a 5-2 majority on the officially nonpartisan 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 2026 | Campaign 2026

Posted: February 24, 2026
Updated: July 16, 2026

Fall: Oath • Spending

Freedom Caucus Fund first registered to make independent expenditures in Wisconsin in mid-February. Its registered address in Athens, Georgia matches that of PDS Compliance, a company that manages finance matters for political campaign committees. It shares a treasurer with the federally registered committee of the same name. At the federal level, Freedom Caucus Fund works to elect conservatives to the U.S. House of Representatives.

With a week remaining in February, the committee reported spending over $11,500 for online advertising to support Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin’s 7th District for governor. A former state legislator and a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus Tiffany is vying to be the Republican candidate in the fall 2026 open gubernatorial race as two-term Democratic Gov. Tony Evers is retiring. Nomination papers for the August primary are not due until June 1st, so it is not yet known what his competition will look like in the primary or, should he win nomination, in the general election. One of his potential Republican rivals, dropped out a day after Tiffany was endorsed by President Donald Trump.

The day after the committee filed its first spending report, it reported spending about another $6,500 for online advertising in support of Tiffany.

At the end of March, it reported* about another $640 for online advertising to support Tiffany.

In mid-July, the committee reported* about another $790 spent in April for online advertisements backing Tiffany.

*The committee did not file the 72-hour independent expenditure report. This information was taken from the committee's 2026 Spring Pre-Election report.

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 2026 | Campaign 2026

Posted: February 25, 2026
Updated: April 3, 2026

Spring: Oath • Spending

While the name is new, Restoration of America PAC has operated as both registered and unregistered independent expenditure committees in past state elections under the name Restoration PAC beginning in 2022 and through 2025. The various organizations under which it has operated to further a right-wing agenda nationally can be found on the organization's website.

Restoration of America PAC is also the name of a super PAC registered with the Federal Elections Commission, and, until some point last year, also known as Restoration PAC. The state and federal committees share more than the name, as the two committees have the same Florida address and treasurer. While there is no donor information available for the state committee, the principal funder of the federal committee is Richard Uihlein, CEO of the Uline Corp. and a major funder of conservative candidates and causes both in Wisconsin and nationally along with his wife, Elizabeth, the company's president. The most recent report filed with the Federal Election Commission shows it raised $26.64 million in 2025, of which about $22.47 million came from Richard Uihlein alone.

Six weeks out from the April 7th election to fill an open seat on the officially nonpartisan Wisconsin State Supreme Court, Restoration of America reported spending $40,000 for online advertising to support Waukesha-based Court of Appeals Judge Maria Lazar for the position. Lazar first won her current position with $250,000 from Fair Courts America, another organization also supported by Uihlein. Lazar faces erstwhile Democratic state legislator and Dane County-based Court of Appeals Judge Chris Taylor. Conservatives can only hope to maintain the court's current ideological status quo where liberals currently enjoy a 4-3 majority.

Five days before election day, the group reported spending $20,000 for phone calls or texts. (The report does not specify which.)

Last active election: 2025 as Restoration PAC

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.