Press Releases

Wisconsin Democracy Campaign's press releases and special reports cover issues central to our mission, including campaign fundraising, political corruption and more.

2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012

2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1997-1999

Two of the Worst Anti-Voter Bills in Wisconsin

Ballot Box Behind Barbed Wire and Keep Out Sign

April 27, 2021

(Testimony by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Executive Director Matthew Rothschild before the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections in opposition to AB179, companion to SB205, and AB201, companion to SB204.)

Bills Would Cap Predatory Loan Rates at 36 Percent

Payday Loans Pulling Boat and Man Underwater

April 19, 2021

GOP lawmakers who control the legislature have introduced two bills that would cap the triple-digit interest rates charged by predatory lenders in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Files Amicus Brief in Case Against Vos and LeMahieu

Illegal Legal

April 15, 2021

On April 14, the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign filed an amicus brief in a case against Speaker Robin Vos and Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu in the Dane County Circuit Court, alleging unlawful appropriation of taxpayer dollars to hire high-priced private lawyers in preparation for a legal fight over the upcoming redistricting maps.

Don't Make It Harder to Vote Absentee

Absentee Ballot Request Banned

April 15, 2021

(Testimony by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Executive Director Matthew Rothschild before the Senate Committee on Elections, Election Process Reform, and Ethics in opposition to SB 204 and SB 205 on April 15, 2021.)

Don't Legalize Harassment of Election Officials

Gavel and Ballot Box

Posted: April 15, 2021
Updated: April 16, 2021

(Testimony by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Executive Director Matthew Rothschild before the Assembly Judiciary Committee in opposition to AB194, companion to SB213, on April 15, 2021.)

Don’t Turn Away Poll Workers

Hand Stamping Rejected on Applicant Documents

April 14, 2021

(Testimony by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Executive Director Matthew Rothschild to the Wisconsin Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections in opposition to AB 173, companion to SB207, on April 14, 2021.)

Tourism, Restaurant Interests Against Bills for Earlier School Starts

Blackboard: Back to School Not

April 13, 2021

Tourism and restaurant interests oppose two bipartisan bills that would repeal current state law and allow public schools to begin the school year before Sept. 1.

Smear Group Spending a Record $1M+ in DPI Race

Classroom with Independent Expenditure Total

April 12, 2021

Outside election spending by special interest groups in this spring’s race for state school superintendent topped $1 million – a record, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign preliminary review found.

Five Special Interest Groups Dole Out $387K+ in Special Elections

Assembly District 89 and Senate District 13

April 12, 2021

Five outside electioneering groups that back Republicans spent more than $387,000 on two special legislative elections held April 6. No outside groups backing Democrats spent money on these races.

Don’t Interfere with the Freedom to Vote

Vote Pins

April 8, 2021

(Testimony by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Executive Director Matthew Rothschild to the Wisconsin Senate Committee on Elections, Elections Process Reform, and Ethics on April 8, 2021.)

Outside Group Spending Tops $1M in School Superintendent Race

Stack of Cash, Stack of Books

April 5, 2021

Spending on outside electioneering activities by special interest groups topped $1 million in the state school superintendent’s race with Democratic groups outspending a Republican group about 5-to-1 as of Monday morning.

Our Brief to Defend Voting Rights at the Wisconsin Supreme Court

Gavel and Voting on the Block

April 2, 2021

The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign is pleased to join other members of the Wisconsin Voting Rights Coalition in filing an amicus brief before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Conservative Justice Sides with Major Campaign Contributor Over Pandemic Health Orders

Bulldozing the Scales of Justice

March 31 , 2021

Conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley cast the deciding 4-3 vote on Wednesday in a case brought by a major campaign contributor who opposed the governor’s authority to issue successive public health orders during the covid-19 pandemic.

Jill Underly Raises $1.3M+ Mostly From State Dem Party

Illustration Classroom Money Bag and Democratic Donkey

March 30, 2021

Jill Underly, a candidate in next Tuesday’s election for state school superintendent, raised more than $1.3 million in February and March thanks to a huge infusion of cash from the state Democratic Party.

GOP Electioneering Group Drops $56K+ in Appeals Court Contest

Appeals Court District 2 Map

March 24, 2021

A Virginia-based electioneering group that supports conservative judicial candidates throughout the country has spent about $56,200 in a Wisconsin court of appeals race.

Liberal Groups Outspending DeVos group 13 to 1 in Superintendent Race

Calculator, Pent, Notepad with Independent Expenditures Total

March 22, 2021

Liberal groups are winning the money race in the so-called “nonpartisan” state school superintendent race, where Pecatonica Area School Superintendent Jill Underly faces Deborah Kerr, a retired Brown Deer schools superintendent.

Outside Spending in Regular Spring, Special Elections Tops $800K

Chalk Board with Independent Expenditure Math

March 15, 2021

Seven special interest groups have spent more than $800,000 as of Monday morning on outside electioneering activities in the state school superintendent race and in two special legislative elections.

Companies Accused of PFAS Contamination Contributed $72K to State Candidates

Chemicals

March 9, 2021

Employees from a handful of 23 chemical companies sued by the City of La Crosse for PFAS contamination have contributed nearly $72,000 since 2015 to Wisconsin legislative and statewide candidates.

Former Lt. Gov’s New PAC Doled Out $121K to the State GOP, Legislative Candidates

Rebecca Kleefisch

March 4, 2021

A new political action committee created last summer by former GOP Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch contributed $121,000 to GOP legislative candidates and the Republican Party of Wisconsin in 2020.

Wisconsin GOP’s Misguided Move on Amending the Constitution

Coffee Stained Copy of the Constitution

Testimony to the Assembly Committee on Constitution and Ethics

March 3, 2021

(Testimony by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Executive Director Matthew Rothschild opposing Joint Resolution 9 calling for an Article V convention of the states.)

Legislative Campaign Committees, State Party Accept Excessive Contributions

Case Overflowing with Hundred Dollar Bills

February 25, 2021

Three legislative campaign committees and the state Democratic Party accepted excessive corporate and political action committee contributions in 2020.

State Parties, Legislative Campaign Committees Accepted $1.6M in Corporate Contributions in 2020

Buildings with Cash Floating Down

February 24, 2021

The state Democratic and Republican parties and four legislative fundraising committees accepted $1.6 million in corporate contributions in 2020, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign preliminary review found.

Accused GOP Electors Contributed Nearly $14K to State Candidates

Fake Ballot Box

February 17, 2021

Eight of 10 GOP stalwarts accused of fraudulently certifying former President Donald Trump as the winner of Wisconsin’s 10 electoral votes have contributed nearly $14,000 since 2015 to legislative and statewide candidates.

Fitzgerald Cited for Campaign Violation But Doesn't Pay Penalty

Scott Fitzgerald

February 12 , 2021

Former Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald’s campaign committee agreed to a $3,600 settlement last October for accepting excessive campaign contributions, but never forked over the cash, campaign finance records show.