2011 Recall Election Finance Profile - Robert Cowles

Senator Cowles was first elected to the Assembly in 1982 and to the Senate in an April 1987 special election.

Senator Cowles was one of nine senators facing recall elections in 2011 spurred by the passage of Governor Scott Walker's plan to curtail public employee collective bargaining rights. He had no primary opposition and faced Democratic opposition in the August recall election.

American Federation for Children Action Fund IE Committee ($1,015), NFIB Safe Trust ($285), NRA Political Victory Fund ($9,195) and Wisconsin Right to Life PAC ($482) made independent expenditures favoring Senator Cowles.

DFA-Wisconsin ($13,273), DLCC Wisconsin PAC ($2), Greater Wisconsin Political Independent Expenditure Fund ($25,513), PCCC Recall Committee ($318), Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin Political Fund ($7,083), Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin Inc. ($6,800), We Are Wisconsin PAC ($268,487) and Wisconsin WOMEN VOTE! ($2,635) made independent expenditures supporting his opponent.

One group, Campaign to Defeat Barack Obama PAC (estimated $2,083), made independent expenditures in support of Senator Cowles but did not register with the state's Government Accountability Board or file any other legally mandated documentation.

Americans for Prosperity and Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce spent undisclosed sums on "issue ads" in support of Senator Cowles. Greater Wisconsin Committee and Progressive Change Campaign Committee & Democracy for America spent undisclosed sums on "issue ads" in opposition.

2011-2012: Energy, Biotechnology, and Consumer Protection (Chair); Workforce Development, Small Business and Tourism; Mining Jobs (September 2011-February 2012); Joint Legislative Audit (Co-chair); Joint Information Policy and Technology; Information Technology Management Board; Special Committee on Domestic Biofuels; Special Committee on Single-Use Plastics.

2009-2010: Commerce, Utilities, Energy and Rail; Audit; Administrative Rules; Joint Review of Administrative Rules; Joint Audit; Joint Information Policy and Technology; Information Technology Board; Special Committee on Domestic Biofuels.

*All figures represent candidate income before any returns.