2011 Recall Election Finance Profile - Luther Olsen

Senator Olsen was first elected to the Assembly in 1994 and to the Senate in 2004.

Senator Olsen 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 was opposed in the August election by Fred Clark, the Democratic incumbent from the 42nd Assembly District.

American Federation for Children Action Fund IE Committee Inc. ($1,015), NFIB Safe Trust ($285), NRA Political Victory Fund ($12,080), Volunteers for Agriculture ($32,012) and Wisconsin Right to Life PAC ($2,662) made independent expenditures favoring Senator Olsen.

Citizen Action of Wisconsin Inc. ($4,254), DFA-Wisconsin ($158,555), DLCC Wisconsin PAC ($2), Friends of Ann Schmidt ($253), Greater Wisconsin Political Independent Expenditure Fund ($504,718), MoveOn.org Political  Action Wisconsin IE Committee ($44,584), PCCC Recall Commmittee ($20,169), PCCC Recall Fund IE ($129,763), People for the American Way ($38,295), Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin Political Fund ($5,291), Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin Inc. ($11,600), We Are Wisconsin PAC ($1,933,025), WEAC PAC ($74,074), Winnebagoland Uniserv PAC ($9,172), Wisconsin Sierra Club Education Committee ($7,278) and Working America ($6,594) made independent expenditures supporting his opponent.

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

American Federation for Chidren, Americans for Prosperity, Club for Growth Wisconsin, Presidential Coalition and Wisconsin Family Action Inc. spent undisclosed sums on "issue ads" in support of Senator Olsen. Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, Greater Wisconsin Committee, One Wisconsin Now and Progressive Change Campaign Committee & Democracy for America spent undisclosed sums on "issue ads" in opposition.

2011-2012: Education (Chair); Finance; Insurance and Housing; Joint Finance; Special Committee on School Safety; Special Committee on Justice Reinvestment Initiative Oversight; Special Committee on Spousal Maintenance Awards in Divorce Proceedings; Special Committee on Health Care Access (Chair).

2009-2010: Education; Environment; Finance; Joint Finance; Special Committee on School Safety; Special Committee on Justice Reinvestment Initiative Oversight.

*All figures represent candidate income before any returns.