Investigations

Record campaign spending in suburban Milwaukee legislative race for Sen. Alberta Darlin’s seat

More than $2.2 million raised and spent for $53k-a-year job

Political donations continue to accelerate after campaign finance laws relaxed in 2015

A photo of State Sen. Alberta Darling, a Republican, who defeated substitute teacher and Democrat Neal Plotkin to hold the 8th Senate District seat in the north Milwaukee suburbs she's held for years.
State Sen. Alberta Darling, a Republican, defeated substitute teacher and Democrat Neal Plotkin to hold the 8th Senate District seat in the north Milwaukee suburbs she’s held for years.

By Peter Cameron, THE BADGER PROJECT

The race for the state Senate seat in the northern suburbs of Milwaukee was one of the most expensive in the history of the Wisconsin State Legislature, according to an analysis by The Badger Project.

State Sen. Alberta Darling, a Republican from River Hills who has served in the legislature for 30 years, defended her seat against Democrat Neal Plotkin, a substitute teacher from Glendale.

Darling won 54% of the nearly 120,000 votes cast in the race for the State Senate’s 8th District.

On the way to that result, the two candidates raised and spent a total of more than $2.2 million. And Plotkin, a first-time political candidate, won the money game. His total haul of campaign cash was more than $1.2 million. Almost all of that — nearly $1.1 million — came from the Democratic Party.

Darling raised an almost identical amount. Nearly half came from the GOP.

The biggest donors to each candidate are listed below.

All for a job of state senator that pays $53,000 a year.

A first-time political candidate, Plotkin said it was “eye-opening” how much time he had to spend on the phone asking people for money. He said he was “very open” to running again.

“I kept all our extra campaign signs, just in case I need them,” he said.

Darling did not respond to multiple requests seeking comment.

Joseph Czarnezki, a Democrat who previously held the 8th District seat before Darling in the 1990s, said Democrats spent heavily on this race because they felt the incumbent was vulnerable.

But Czarnezki, now a supervisor on the Milwaukee County Board, also noted that the district is one of the wealthiest in the state, another reason for the huge pile of campaign cash last year.

And he credited gerrymandering with protecting incumbent Republicans.

“The fact that Democrats spent huge amounts of money on campaigns around the state, with little positive results, shows the strength of the gerrymandered legislative districts in Wisconsin,” he said.

Campaign finance laws weakened; floodgates open

Elections for the seat have seen much smaller amounts of cash raised in recent elections. Darling did not even have a general election opponent in the previous decade until 2020.

But in this race and across the state, the explosion in political cash in recent years can be attributed to the weakening of Wisconsin campaign finance laws in the last decade, said Matt Rothschild, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a Madison-based organization that tracks campaign spending in the state.

In 2015, after court cases watered down state campaign finance law, the Republican-controlled state legislature further diluted restrictions.

Joseph Czarnezki, a Democrat who previously held the 8th District State Senate seat

Those events have left a gaping loophole in Wisconsin campaign finance law. While individuals are limited in what they can donate directly to a candidate, political parties are now free from campaign finance limits. Super-rich donors can give unlimited amounts to political parties, which can turn around and give unlimited sums to candidates.

Out-of-state billionaire liberals like Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune, and Karla Jurvetson, a California physician, donated $2.5 million and $2.8 million, respectively, to the Democratic Party of Wisconsin in 2020. Billionaires Diane Hendricks of ABC Building Supply, who lives in the Beloit area, and Elizabeth Uihlein of Uline Shipping Supplies, who splits time between Chicago and Wisconsin, gave $2.4 million and $1 million to state Republicans, respectively.

That mass of cash to political parties, and the lack of limits on those parties, are how Plotkin was able to receive more than $1 million from the Democratic Party, and Darling nearly $600,000 from the state GOP. By contrast, an individual can only give a state Senate candidate a maximum of $2,000.

“It’s just astonishing that the price tag for running for office just continues to shatter the ceiling into the stratosphere,” Rothschild said.

Whether Plotkin and Darling definitely shattered campaign spending records is somewhat unclear. The Wisconsin Ethics Commission, which monitors campaign finance in the state, has records dating back to 2008, Administrator Daniel A. Carlton Jr. said. Previous records have either been destroyed or are housed in a state building somewhere. But stricter campaign finance laws before 2015 and more modest spending in state legislative races back then make it likely that new highs were set last year.

Democrats have introduced a bill in the Republican-controlled legislature that would apply limits on donations to and from political parties in Wisconsin, but Republicans ignored it.

So the cash avalanche continues.

Who donated

Plotkin accumulated a huge chest of over $1.2 million in campaign cash, but raised less than $170,000 from donors who weren’t the Democratic Party.

He donated $10,000 to his own campaign, and many labor groups including the Teamsters, the Wisconsin State Council of Carpenters, AFSCME and several teachers unions each gave him $2,000, according to campaign finance records. The campaign committees for state Sen. Jon Erpenbach, (D-Madison) and Senate Minority Leader Janet Bewley, (D-Mason), each gave Plotkin $2,000.

Darling is no novice when it comes to big fundraising. When Democrats unsuccessfully tried to recall her along with then-Gov. Scott Walker in 2011, the state senator raised more than $1 million, a record at the time. In a quirk of state law, recall elections in Wisconsin allow candidates to fundraise without limit for 60 days.

This time, she raised about $650,000 from sources outside the Republican Party, according to campaign finance records.

While committees and individuals are only allowed to give a state senate candidate a maximum of $2,000 per 4-year election cycle, the Milwaukee Police Association, the Wisconsin Beer Distributors Association, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce and the Wisconsin Credit Union League each gave Darling between $2,500 and $4,000. Those are potentially campaign finance violations.

The political action committees from big business like Philip Morris, Deloitte, Charter Communications, Walmart, and Festival Foods each gave her the maximum $2,000. Corporations, tribes and unions are forbidden from donating directly to candidates, but they can have their own PACs, which can raise money from employees or members. These organizations can donate directly to candidates.

Wisconsin trade associations representing realtors, bankers, builders and dentists each gave Darling the maximum $2,000, as did Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce and the Wisconsin Insurance Alliance.

The biggest donors to each candidate are listed below.

Independent spending from Super PACs

The record campaign spending does not include spending from groups independent of the campaigns. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in independent spending also flooded the northern suburbs of Milwaukee to influence the election.

These organizations, some of which are called Super PACs, are generally prohibited from coordinating with political campaigns, but they can raise and spend unlimited amounts attacking or promoting a candidate or an issue on the airwaves, online or in print. The 2010 Citizens United decision of the Supreme Court allowed for the creation of some groups and unleashed others. Also, some independent spending groups are not always required to disclose their donors.

A liberal Super PAC called A Better Wisconsin Together spent nearly $300,000 on internet ads attacking Darling, according to campaign finance records.

The Wisconsin Super PAC for Planned Parenthood spent more than $30,000 attacking Darling with online advertising, and more than $30,000 supporting Plotkin.

The Super PAC for Americans for Prosperity, the political advocacy group launched and funded by the Koch Brothers, spent more than $10,000 supporting Darling, including running online ads.

The Badger Project is a nonpartisan, citizen-supported journalism nonprofit in Wisconsin.


TOP 100 DONORS TO DARLING IN 2020

CONTRIBUTORTOTALTYPECITYSTATE
CMTE TO ELECT A REPUBLICAN SENATE OF WISCONSIN$322,116Non-IndividualMADISONWI
WISCONSIN REPUBLICAN PARTY$243,256Non-IndividualMADISONWI
MILWAUKEE POLICE ASSOCIATION$4,000Non-IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
WISCONSIN BEER DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION$3,000Non-IndividualMADISONWI
METROPOLITAN MILWAUKEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE$3,000Non-IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
WISCONSIN CREDIT UNION LEAGUE$2,500Non-IndividualMADISONWI
SCHLOEMER, JAMES H$2,500IndividualMENOMONEE FALLSWI
CRICHTON, JOHN B$2,500IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
PHILIP MORRIS USA$2,250Non-IndividualWASHINGTONDC
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS$2,000Non-IndividualSTAMFORDCT
DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU$2,000Non-IndividualWASHINGTONDC
FOREST COUNTY POTAWATOMI$2,000Non-IndividualMADISONWI
WALMART$2,000Non-IndividualBENTONVILLEAR
WISCONSIN REALTORS ASSOCIATION$2,000Non-IndividualMADISONWI
WISCONSIN BANKERS ASSOCIATION$2,000Non-IndividualMADISONWI
WISCONSIN BUILDERS ASSOCIATION$2,000Non-IndividualMADISONWI
WISCONSIN DENTAL ASSOCIATION$2,000Non-IndividualMADISONWI
WISCONSIN INSURANCE ALLIANCE$2,000Non-IndividualMADISONWI
WISCONSIN MANUFACTURERS & COMMERCE$2,000Non-IndividualMADISONWI
DANTCHIK, ARTHUR$2,000IndividualGLADWYNEPA
OZAUKEE COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY$2,000Non-IndividualCEDARBURGWI
HILLIS, ROBERT J (BOB)$2,000IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
HENDRICKS, KIMBERLEE K (KIM)$2,000IndividualJANESVILLEWI
EASTHAM, WILLIAM E$2,000IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
MILLS, SANDRA R$2,000IndividualMENASHAWI
FITZGERALD, DEAN$2,000IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN$2,000Non-IndividualALEXANDRIAVA
GREATER MILWAUKEE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS$2,000Non-IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
CMTE TO ELECT JOAN BALLWEG$2,000Non-IndividualMARKESANWI
MICHELS, PATRICK D$2,000IndividualBROWNSVILLEWI
MCKEITHAN JR, DANIEL F (JACK)$2,000IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
ZORE, DIANE$2,000IndividualRIVER HILLSWI
MOHS, FRED$2,000IndividualMADISONWI
FITZGERALD, ANNE$2,000IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
JENKINS, ROBERT H (BOB)$2,000IndividualRIVER HILLSWI
ENDRES, CHRISTIANE$2,000IndividualNAPLESFL
KUBLY, MICHAEL C$2,000IndividualRIVER HILLSWI
BAUMGARTNER, DONALD W$2,000IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
MCKEITHAN, PATRICIA BRASH WARD$2,000IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
LUBAR, SHELDON B$2,000IndividualRIVER HILLSWI
UIHLEIN JR, DAVID VOGEL$2,000IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
FESTIVAL FOODS$2,000Non-IndividualDe PereWI
REBECCA PAC$2,000Non-IndividualMIDDLETONWI
PETULLO, ANTHONY J$2,000IndividualWHITEFISH BAYWI
UIHLEIN, ELIZABETH A (LIZ)$2,000IndividualLAKE FORESTIL
BURKE, KATHRYN M$2,000IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
WHITE, MICHAEL H$2,000IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
BELL, JAMES$2,000IndividualMEQUONWI
ORR, JOANNE$2,000IndividualVILLAGE OF GOLFFL
HAUSKE, THOMAS$2,000IndividualRIVER HILLSWI
MICHELS, KEVIN P$2,000IndividualFOND DU LACWI
US VENTURE$2,000Non-IndividualAPPLETONWI
AGGREGATE PRODUCERS OF WISCONSIN$2,000Non-IndividualMADISONWI
ALLIANCE OF HEALTH INSURERS$2,000Non-IndividualMADISONWI
CARPENTER, CAROL ANNE$2,000IndividualBAYSIDEWI
TRUNZO, ANNE CALLAN$2,000IndividualBROOKFIELDWI
ALEXANDER, JOE$2,000IndividualMADISONWI
OMALLEY, JAMES$2,000IndividualELM GROVEWI
KUBLY, BILLIE$2,000IndividualNAPLESFL
ROBBINS, ELIZABETH$2,000IndividualRIVER HILLSWI
FRIENDS OF MARY$2,000Non-IndividualMECHANICSBURGPA
SCHMALZ, JULIET$2,000IndividualINDIANAPOLISIN
GREBE, PATTY$2,000IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
WAGNER, JO ANN$2,000IndividualMEQUONWI
ELLIS, JOSEPH S$1,950IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
MILLER, BRETT$1,780IndividualCOLGATEWI
WISCONSIN HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION$1,750Non-IndividualMADISONWI
HUIZENGA, JOHN CHARLES (J C)$1,750IndividualGRAND RAPIDSMI
FORBES, JAMES$1,750IndividualLECANTOFL
HAAG, SCOTT$1,750IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
ELDRIDGE, WENDY$1,750IndividualRIVER HILLSWI
MOON, MARJORIE$1,600IndividualSHOREWOODWI
DICKINSON, KATHLEEN L (KATHY)$1,580IndividualRIVER HILLSWI
ALLIANT ENERGY$1,500Non-IndividualMADISONWI
ELI LILLY & CO$1,500Non-IndividualINDIANAPOLISIN
XCEL ENERGY$1,500Non-IndividualMADISONWI
WISCONSIN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION$1,500Non-IndividualMADISONWI
WISCONSIN ENERGY CORP$1,500Non-IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
GREBE SR, MICHAEL W$1,500IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
MILWAUKEE PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS LOCAL 215$1,500Non-IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
DARROW JR, RUSSELL M$1,500IndividualWEST BENDWI
BARRY, WILLIAM E$1,500IndividualBROOKFIELDWI
JENKINS, DIANNE$1,500IndividualRIVER HILLSWI
YOUNG JR, FRED M$1,500IndividualRACINEWI
GREENBERG, BEVERLY (BEV)$1,500IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
STERNER, FRANK M$1,500IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
DAVIS, DON H$1,500IndividualWHITEFISH BAYWI
SCHUEMANN, MARGARET$1,500IndividualRIVER HILLSWI
SCHMITZ, MICHAEL$1,500IndividualMEQUONWI
MINAHAN, SUSAN$1,500IndividualFOX POINTWI
MINAHAN, DANIEL$1,500IndividualFOX POINTWI
GOULD, THOMAS$1,450IndividualMEQUONWI
BNSF RAILWAY CO$1,250Non-IndividualFORT WORTHTX
KIECKHEFER, MARYGLEN$1,250IndividualMEQUONWI
WISCONSIN ASSISTED LIVING ASSOCIATION$1,250Non-IndividualMADISONWI
ZIETLOW, DONALD P (DON)$1,250IndividualLA CROSSEWI
HENTZEN, ALBERT L$1,250IndividualMILWAUKEEWI
WISCONSIN BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION$1,250Non-IndividualMADISONWI
LANG, GORDON$1,250IndividualWHITEFISH BAYWI
BRAEGER, DEANNA$1,218IndividualMILWAUKEEWI

TOP 100 DONORS TO PLOTKIN IN 2020

CONTRIBUTORTOTALTYPECITYSTATE
STATE SENATE DEMOCRATIC CMTE OF WISCONSIN$688,671NON-INDIVIDUALMADISONWI
WISCONSIN DEMOCRATIC PARTY$380,470NON-INDIVIDUALMADISONWI
PLOTKIN, NEAL S$10,000INDIVIDUALGLENDALEWI
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF OZAUKEE COUNTY$5,000NON-INDIVIDUALCEDARBURGWI
PAGE, CARL$2,950INDIVIDUALSAN FRANCISCOCA
PAGE, GLORIA$2,200INDIVIDUALLOS ALTOSCA
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS / IBT$2,000NON-INDIVIDUALWASHINGTONDC
FEDERATION OF TEACHERS LOCAL 212$2,000NON-INDIVIDUALMILWAUKEEWI
WISCONSIN LABORERS DISTRICT COUNCIL$2,000NON-INDIVIDUALDE FORESTWI
SEIU LOCAL 1$2,000NON-INDIVIDUALCHICAGOIL
SEIU WISCONSIN STATE COUNCIL$2,000NON-INDIVIDUALMADISONWI
WISCONSIN STATE COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS$2,000NON-INDIVIDUALMADISONWI
BURNS, TIMOTHY W$2,000INDIVIDUALMADISONWI
COULEE REGION UNITED EDUCATORS$2,000NON-INDIVIDUALLACROSSEWI
JON ERPENBACH SENATE CMTE$2,000NON-INDIVIDUALMIDDLETONWI
ELECTRICAL WORKERS LOCAL 494$2,000NON-INDIVIDUALMILWAUKEEWI
PLUMBERS & STEAMFITTERS LOCAL 11$2,000NON-INDIVIDUALDULUTHMN
BLUMENFIELD, CHARLES$2,000INDIVIDUALMEQUONWI
TECHMEIER, WILLARD$2,000INDIVIDUALMEQUONWI
GABERT, STEVEN C$2,000INDIVIDUALWAUWATOSAWI
JANET BEWLEY CAMPAIGN CMTE$2,000NON-INDIVIDUALASHLANDWI
FORTIS, LOUIS$2,000INDIVIDUALMILWAUKEEWI
WISCONSIN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION COUNCIL REGION 7$2,000NON-INDIVIDUALBROOKFIELDWI
AFSCME WISCONSIN COUNCIL 32$2,000NON-INDIVIDUALMADISONWI
PAGE, BARBARA$2,000INDIVIDUALPALO ALTOCA
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC REDISTRICTING CMTE$2,000NON-INDIVIDUALWASHINGTONDC
KERN, DEBORAH$2,000INDIVIDUALFOX POINTWI
MILWAUKEE AREA SERVICE & HOSPITALITY WORKERS / MASH$2,000NON-INDIVIDUALMILWAUKEEWI
FLIPPABLE CCD$2,000NON-INDIVIDUALBROOKLYNNY
PATEL, DEBORAH$1,800INDIVIDUALMILWAUKEEWI
LUBAR, MARIANNE S$1,450INDIVIDUALRIVER HILLSWI
FRANK, LINDA$1,300INDIVIDUALMILWAUKEEWI
MALICKY, ERIC$1,250INDIVIDUALMEQUONWI
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF WISCONSIN$1,000NON-INDIVIDUALMADISONWI
WISCONSIN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION COUNCIL REGION 6$1,000NON-INDIVIDUALMADISONWI
MILLER JR, JOHN W$1,000INDIVIDUALFOX POINTWI
SHILLING FOR SENATE$1,000NON-INDIVIDUALLA CROSSEWI
KOSTIC, KATHRYN$1,000INDIVIDUALMEQUONWI
FRIENDS OF MELISSA SARGENT$1,000NON-INDIVIDUALMADISONWI
HOA, LONG TAM$1,000INDIVIDUALSAN FRANCISCOCA
GEBOY, SCOTT$1,000INDIVIDUALMILWAUKEEWI
GARCIA, REBECCA$1,000INDIVIDUALMENOMONEE FALLSWI
JABLONKA, R$1,000INDIVIDUALMEQUONWI
LEVY, MARK$775INDIVIDUALBROOKFIELDWI
PACKARD, TAMARA B$750INDIVIDUALMADISONWI
LEPGOLD, EDIE$700INDIVIDUALAUSTINTX
MEYERS, ANN$600INDIVIDUALPEWAUKEEWI
BUCHWALD, JANET$600INDIVIDUALSUDBURYMA
CHAPMAN, CHARLES STEPHEN$501INDIVIDUALLAKE OSWEGOOR
WASHINGTON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL CMTE OF WISCONSIN$500NON-INDIVIDUALWEST BENDWI
SHEET METAL WORKERS INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION / SMWIA$500NON-INDIVIDUALNORTH OLMSTEDOH
KAMENITSA, LYNN$500INDIVIDUALOAK PARKIL
THOMSEN, MARK L$500INDIVIDUALMILWAUKEEWI
OTT, MARLENE F$500INDIVIDUALGREENDALEWI
GOODMAN, IDY$500INDIVIDUALMILWAUKEEWI
SCHREIBER, MARTIN$500INDIVIDUALMILWAUKEEWI
GOYKE, GARY R$500INDIVIDUALMADISONWI
GRUNEWALD, GLENN$500INDIVIDUALWAUWATOSAWI
NICHOLSON, DONNA R$500INDIVIDUALMEQUONWI
GOLDSTEIN, ELLEN$500INDIVIDUALGLENDALEWI
CARNEOL, ALLAN$500INDIVIDUALMEQUONWI
TATTERSON, ROBERT$500INDIVIDUALMEQUONWI
SCHULTZ, IRMA$500INDIVIDUALMILWAUKEEWI
OFFERMAN, NICHOLAS$500INDIVIDUALCEDARBURGWI
ROBINSON, JAMES$500INDIVIDUALMILWAUKEEWI
BREWER, BRUCE$500INDIVIDUALBAYSIDEWI
EGLASH, HY & SHEILA$500INDIVIDUALMEQUONWI
EISMAN, EUGENE H$460INDIVIDUALMILWAUKEEWI
SCHUERMANN, KRISTEN$450INDIVIDUALMENASHAWI
HOOGERLAND, CONSTANCE$425INDIVIDUALMILWAUKEEWI
HAZELBAKER, MARK$400INDIVIDUALMADISONWI
GRUNBAUM, GUSTAVO$400INDIVIDUALWHITEFISH BAYWI
TALMADGE, RICHARD$385INDIVIDUALBEDFORD HILLSNY
ROBBINS, DAN$350INDIVIDUALGLENDALEWI
SPERLING, MICHAEL$350INDIVIDUALMEQUONWI
DOMNITZ, NOAH$350INDIVIDUALMEQUONWI
HABUSH, ROBERT$350INDIVIDUALWHITEFISH BAYWI
NOCTON, JAMES$350INDIVIDUALFOX POINTWI
RINTELMANN, GARY$333INDIVIDUALMEQUONWI
MAXTONE-GRAHAM, IAN$308INDIVIDUALPACIFIC PALISADESCA
GEAREN, JOHN$308INDIVIDUALOAK PARKIL
LYNCH, JOHN$300INDIVIDUALWHITEFISH BAYWI
KAPLAN, NANCY$300INDIVIDUALGLENDALEWI
FONSTAD, BRIDGET$300INDIVIDUALFOX POINTWI
KOLANDA, JO A$300INDIVIDUALMEQUONWI
DAVIDSON, ARTHUR$300INDIVIDUALMEQUONWI
STRAIT, RICHARD$300INDIVIDUALBAYSIDEWI
MANNING, MARCY$263INDIVIDUALSTERLINGVA
SAMUELSON, SUSAN$250INDIVIDUALBELMONTMA
MILLER, MARK$250INDIVIDUALMONONAWI
FRIENDS OF MARK MILLER$250NON-INDIVIDUALMONONAWI
CHERNOW, BOB W$250INDIVIDUALGRAFTONWI
CLIFFORD, KEITH R$250INDIVIDUALMADISONWI
RUSINOW, JEFFREY B (JEFF)$250INDIVIDUALGRAFTONWI
REDMOND, MICHAEL J$250INDIVIDUALMADISONWI
FRANKENTHAL, HOWARD$250INDIVIDUALMEQUONWI
NEUFELD, ROSALIE$250INDIVIDUALMEQUONWI
KIRKEENG, PEGGY$250INDIVIDUALMEQUONWI
JOSEPH, BONNIE BOCKL$250INDIVIDUALMILWAUKEEWI
PETERING, DAVID H$250INDIVIDUALFOX POINTWI

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