Hijacking Campaign 2018 | Independent Expenditures | Issue Ads | Candidates | Offices | Campaign 2018
Posted: January 5, 2018
Updated: June 18, 2021
Fall: Oath • Spending
Special: Oath • Spending
Spring: Oath • Spending
This committee was created in 2010 by the left-leaning Greater Wisconsin Committee to make independent expenditures in Wisconsin elections.
In 2018 the he organization was involved in the fall, June special, January special and the spring supreme court elections.
Fall
In late August, the committee first reported spending more than $379,000 on a 30-second television ad that contrasted incumbent Republican Gov. Scott Walker and Democratic candidate for governor Tony Evers. The ad said Walker is a career politician who is desperate for reelection to a third term in November and Evers is a lifelong educator.
In mid-October, the group sponsored a 30-second television ad that criticized Walker of wasting taxpayer dollars on numerous plane flights. A short time later, the group sponsored another 30-second ad that accused Walker of paying back wealthy donors who helped elect him with generous tax cuts.
The committee also sponsored a 30-second television ad in support of Democratic Sen. Caleb Frostman, of Sturgeon Bay, saying he supports tax cuts for the middle class while his opponent, GOP Rep. Andre Jacque, of De Pere, supports tax breaks for millionaires.
Just days before the November 6th election the group first reported spending on television advertising to support Democratic incumbent Sen. Janet Bewley in the 25th Senate District. It aslo reported spending on television advertisements in the 1st and 17th state senate districts and the governor's race
June Special
Ten days before the June 12 special election in northeastern Wisconsin's 1st Senate District, the group reported spending over $100,000 on a 30-second television ad in the Green Bay television market to support Democrat Caleb Frostman, according to ad buy contracts with the TV stations. Just before the election the group reported additonal spending on online advertising. Frostman defeated GOP Rep. Andre Jacque of De Pere in the special election but lost to him in the general election held later in November.
One day before the 42nd Assembly June 12 special election, the committee reported spending for online advertising to support Democratic candidate Ann Groves Lloyd's losing campaign against Republican Jon Plumer.
Spring
Earlier in 2018, the organization reported spending on online and television advertising in the April 3 Wisconsin Supreme Court election to support candidate Rebecca Dallet, who defeated Sauk County Circuit Judge Michael Screnock for a 10-year seat on the high court. The television ad said Screnock was backed by corporate special interests and accused him of imposing light sentences in some child sexual abuse cases.
It's parent organization was also involved in issue ads in the high court election.
January Special
The group also reported spending on online advertising — here and here — in support of the Democratic candidate in the special election to fill a vacancy in the 10th Senate District in January.
This group, which spent $11.7 million on Wisconsin state elections between 2010 and 2017, is one of four arms operated by the Greater Wisconsin Committee, which was created to back Democratic candidates for legislative and statewide offices.
Last active election: 2017
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.