Sand Mine Owner and Big GOP Donor Sued by Neighbors
May 1, 2019
Forty Trempealeau County residents who live next to two frac sand mining operations have sued the company, which is owned by a big state Republican Party contributor.
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign's press releases and special reports cover issues central to our mission, including campaign fundraising, political corruption and more.
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Influence Peddler of the Month – WEC Energy Group
May 1, 2019
WEC Energy Group has been the leader in political giving since 2010 among about 30 natural gas and electric utilities across the country that make campaign contributions to influence Wisconsin state elections.
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Urges Joint Finance to Keep Fair Maps Funding in State Budget
April 29, 2019
Letter sent to members of the Wisconsin State Legislature's Joint Finance Committee encouraging them to keep funding for nonpartisan redistricting in the state budget.
45 Wisconsin Counties Want to Ban Gerrymandering
April 18, 2019
On April 16, three more counties joined in the growing consensus to ban gerrymandering in Wisconsin.
WDC Files Complaint Against Hagedorn Campaign Committee
April 15, 2019
The campaign committee of Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice-elect Brian Hagedorn failed to file occupational information required by law for 159 individual contributions totaling $70,106, according to a complaint filed Monday by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
Special Interests Doled Out $4.3M in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race
April 10, 2019
Special interest groups spent nearly $4.3 million on outside electioneering activities leading up to last week’s Wisconsin Supreme Court election, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign review found.
Influence Peddler of the Month – Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
April 1, 2019
After several years of mostly funneling money to other special interest groups, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) directly spent more than any other union on outside electioneering activities in last November’s general election.
Outside Spending Groups Make Homestretch Push for Hagedorn
March 29, 2019
Outside electioneering groups have spent nearly $2.8 million to oppose or support the candidates in next Tuesday’s Wisconsin Supreme Court election.
Unions, GOP Dump $300K into WI Supreme Court Campaigns
March 26, 2019
Labor union political action committees (PACs) and state and local Republican Party committees contributed about $300,000 since early February to the two candidates who will face off in next Tuesday’s election for the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Outside Groups for Neubauer Swamping Hagedorn
March 21, 2019
Special interest groups have spent about $1.3 million on outside electioneering activities in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race.
State Permit for Posh Golf Course Lands in Sand
March 19, 2019
A state judge has quashed a state permit granted by former Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s administration that allowed a major GOP contributor to build a golf course along Lake Michigan.
Polluters Cited in Report Contributed $11K+ to GOP Candidates
March 13, 2019
Owners and employees of two Wisconsin businesses cited in an annual pollution report for being among the top chemical waste dumpers in 2017 contributed about $11,700 to mostly Republican legislative and statewide candidates.
Electioneering Groups Weigh in on WI Supreme Court Race
March 8, 2019
Less than a month before the April 2 elections, six special interest groups are spending more than $400,000 on outside electioneering activities in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race.
Wisconsin Contributors Gave Record $10.3M to Electioneering Groups in 2018
March 6, 2019
Nearly 800 Wisconsin contributors gave a record $10.3 million in 2018 to political nonprofit groups that sponsor electioneering activities to influence state and federal elections.
Record $35.8M Spent on Fall Legislative Races in 2018
March 6, 2019
Spending by candidates and special interest smear groups in the 2018 fall legislative races hit a record $35.8 million, according to a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign analysis.
Influence Peddler of the Month – Marlene Ricketts
March 1, 2019
Marlene Ricketts lives in Omaha, Neb., but she is throwing some of her money around in Wisconsin. In fact, she is tied for first for making the single largest campaign contribution in Wisconsin in 2018.
School Voucher Backers Rip Evers Plan to Freeze Programs
February 26, 2019
Assembly and Senate Republican leaders say they’ll oppose a plan by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to freeze enrollment in the state’s school voucher programs, whose supporters spend millions of dollars to elect state GOP candidates.
Check Out the Latest Large Contributors to the Wisconsin Supreme Court Candidates
February 20, 2019
Two appeals court judges vying for an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court raised more than $400,000 combined during the first five weeks of the year.
A Valentine to Democracy in Wisconsin
Sen. Larson Unveils a “Campaign Integrity Package” at a press conference Feb. 14, at 11:00 a.m., in the Senate Parlor
February 14, 2019
MADISON—At a press conference this Valentine’s Day, Sen. Chris Larson of Milwaukee is unveiling nine bills that address Wisconsin’s broken campaign finance system.
See the $100,000 and Up Donors to the Dems or GOP in Wisconsin
February 8, 2019
Here is a look at donors who gave $100,000 checks or more to the Democratic Party of Wisconsin or the Republican Party of Wisconsin last year.
Evers to Propose Ending “Dark Store” Loophole Backed by WMC
February 5, 2019
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers says he wants to close a loophole that big box stores and other companies use to lower their tax assessment and force homeowners to pay higher property taxes.
Corporate Contributions Totaled Nearly $1.7M in 2018 to State Parties, Legislative Campaign Committees
February 4, 2019
The state Democratic and Republican parties and four legislative fundraising committees accepted nearly $1.7 million in corporate contributions in 2018, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign preliminary review found.
Influence Peddler of the Month – High Ground Political Fund
February 1, 2019
This new outside electioneering group, which shares the same Milwaukee address as a political consultant and aide to two former Democratic governors, spent more than $700,000 on Wisconsin legislative races last fall.
2018 Governor’s Race Cost Record $93M+
January 24, 2019
Spending by the candidates and outside electioneering groups who smeared them in the 2018 governor’s race set a record of more than $93 million, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign analysis shows.
Wisconsin Attorney General’s Race Cost Record $14M
January 24, 2019
The 2018 Wisconsin attorney general’s race cost a record $14 million, with outside electioneering groups sharply outspending the candidates, a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign review shows.