In Wisconsin’s fiercely contested political arena, billionaire Diane Hendricks has emerged as a key player by significantly boosting Republican campaign efforts. Her substantial contributions have enabled Republican committees to outpace their Democratic counterparts in both fundraising and spending.
Significant Contributions from Diane Hendricks
The Republican Assembly Campaign Committee showed impressive fundraising results, amassing approximately $6.2 million from July to September 23. A large portion of this, around $5.5 million, was donated by Diane Hendricks, the founder of ABC Supply. This financial advantage allowed the committee to spend about $14.3 million during this period, investing heavily in media buys and campaign materials for various GOP candidates.
- Rep. Bob Donovan, R-Greenfield, 61st District: $767,977.51
- Rep. Benjamin Franklin, R-De Pere, 88th District: $627,340.60
- David Daniels, 53rd District candidate: $617,898.60
- Rep. Pat Snyder, R-Weston, 85th District: $603,619.36
Additionally, the Republican committee allocated around $509,000 to support Rep. Shannon Zimmerman of the 30th Assembly District, who faces opposition from Kevin Knoke, backed by national Democrats.
In contrast, the Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee raised around $6 million in the same timeframe. Major contributions included $2.5 million from the daughter-in-law of the late Charlie Munger and $1 million from his daughter, Wendy. The committee spent roughly $3 million, with significant funds directed to the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and candidate Dan Bukiewicz.
Senate Races: Democrats Push Back
In the state Senate, where Republicans hold an 18-15 majority, both parties are concentrating on critical races that could alter the balance of power. The Committee to Elect a Republican Senate (CERS) raised $2.3 million, with $1.75 million from Hendricks. Their Democratic counterparts collected about $1.2 million, with notable contributions from Sarah O’Neill and Lynde Uihlein.
CERS invested nearly $2.7 million, focusing on pivotal races such as the 31st Senate District, where they spent approximately $865,000 on candidate Michele Magadance Skinner. Meanwhile, Democrats spent $115,000 to support incumbent Jeff Smith.
The Democrats concentrated efforts on the 17th Senate District, transferring $1.6 million to support State Rep. Jenna Jacobson against incumbent Sen. Howard Marklein, who received $224,000 from the Republican committee.
In the race for the 21st Senate District, left vacant by Sen. Van Wanggaard’s retirement, the SSDC allocated around $725,000 to candidate Trevor Jung, while CERS spent about $210,000 on GOP candidate Jim Croft.
