Investigations

A list of all donors who have given the maximum to Rep. Bryan Steil, Republican candidate for Congress in southeastern Wisconsin

Steil is dominating fundraising with big support from big business in the race to retain his U.S. House seat.

By Peter Cameron, THE BADGER PROJECT

Two-term Republican Congressman Bryan Steil, who represents the 1st Congressional District in the southeastern corner of Wisconsin, has outraised his Democratic opponent Ann Roe by millions.

Steil has raised about $3.5 million compared to Roe’s $800,000 haul, according to mandatory filings with the Federal Elections Commission. Those figures are accurate up to Oct. 19, the last campaign finance reporting deadline before the election.

Heading into the last couple weeks of the election, Steil had about $1.5 million on hand compared to about $75,000 for Roe.

RAISEDSPENTCASH ON HAND
STEIL, BRYAN$3,455,584$2,288,814$1,542,273
ROE, ANN$782,008$705,641$76,367
As of Oct. 19, 2022.

It’s quite common for the incumbent to outraise challengers by a lot, said Eleanor Neff Powell, a political science professor at UW-Madison.

Industry groups and big business want access to the legislative process, so they donate to incumbents because those candidates are most likely to win, Neff Powell added.

Political groups unaffiliated with the political campaigns can also buy advertising attacking or promoting candidates in the district, but that sort of independent spending has been minimal in Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District. The National Association of Realtors has spent about $13,000 and the National Rifle Association has spent about $1,400, both on advertising promoting Steil, according to mandatory filings with the FEC.

Notable direct donors to Steil’s campaign who gave the legal maximum include billionaire Republican donor Diane Hendricks of ABC Supply Co. in the Beloit-Janesville area and Judith Faulkner, the CEO of Dane County-based Epic healthcare software, who donates to candidates from both parties.

Steil also received the maximum donation from the Political Action Committees of Allstate Insurance, Deloitte, Northwestern Mutual, Comcast, Morgan Stanley, Prudential, Amazon, Charter Communications, JP Morgan, Wells Fargo and State Farm.

Federal campaign limits allow an individual to give a candidate for federal office a maximum of $2,900 per election. Since candidates face a primary and a general, one person can give a total of $5,800 to one candidate per election cycle. A political action committee can give $5,000 per election to a candidate for a total of $10,000 per election cycle.

The Federal Election Campaign Act bans corporations and labor organizations from donating directly to candidates, but they may pay to set up, administer and solicit contributions for their own political action committee. The funds in corporate PACs are usually raised from executives and employees, while those of labor unions are usually raised from members.


The table below lists all donors who have given the maximum to Steil — $10,000 from PACs and $5,800 from individuals — this election cycle, through Oct. 19.

DONORCITYSTATEEMPLOYER
ACPAC ACA INTERNATIONAL PACWASHINGTONDC
AICPA PACDURHAMNC
ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY PAC (ALLPAC)NORTHBROOKIL
ALLY PACWASHINGTONDC
AMAZON PACWASHINGTONDC
AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION PAC (BANKPAC)WASHINGTONDC
AMERICAN COUNCIL OF LIFE INSURERS PACWASHINGTONDC
AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR COMPANY PACMOORHEADMN
AMERICAN FINANCIAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION PACWASHINGTONDC
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants PACDURHAMNC
AMERICAN INVESTMENT COUNCIL PAC – AIC PACWASHINGTONDC
AMERICAN LAND TITLE ASSOCIATION TITLE INDUSTRY PACWASHINGTONDC
BARATTA, JOSEPHNEW YORKNYBLACKSTONE
BAUM, DAVID S.JANESVILLEWIS.S.I. TECHNOLOGIES INC.
BAUM, JUDYSANIBELFLSELF EMPLOYED
BLAIN GILBERTSON, JANEJANESVILLEWIBLAIN’S FARM & FLEET
BLITZER, DAVID S.NEW YORKNYBLACKSTONE
BMO FINANCIAL CORP GOOD GOVERNANCE FUNDCHICAGOIL
BOERKE, DAVID C.MILWAUKEEWICUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD
BUEHL, KARI-ANNJANESVILLEWIHOMEMAKER
BUEHL, TODDJANESVILLEWIABC SUPPLY
BUILDING BRIDGES PACATHENSGA
BUSH, KATHLEEN M.PEWAUKEEWIRETIRED
BUSH, MARK F.PEWAUKEEWIRETIRED
CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORP ASSOC POLITICAL FUNDMCLEANVA
CARR, BRIANPALM BEACHFLBRIAN CARR
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS INC. PACSTAMFORDCT
CITIGROUP INC. PAC – FEDERAL (CITIGROUP PAC-FEDERAL)WASHINGTONDC
CNH INDUSTRIAL EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENT FUNDWASHINGTONDC
COMCAST CORPORATION NBCUNIVERSAL PACPHILADELPHIAPA
COUNCIL OF INSURANCE AGENTS & BROKERS PACWASHINGTONDC
CULAC THE PAC OF CREDIT UNION NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONWASHINGTONDC
CULLEN, CAROLJANESVILLEWI21ST CENTURY REALTY
CULLEN, DAVIDJANESVILLEWIJ.P. CULLEN AND SONS
CULLEN, MARK A.JANESVILLEWIJP CULLEN & SONS
DARROW, RUSSELLWEST BENDWIRETIRED
DELOITTE PACWASHINGTONDC
DERICK, AMYINVERNESSILDERICK DERMATOLOGY LLC
DERICK, MICHAELINVERNESSILDERICK DERMATOLOGY LLC
DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES PACWASHINGTONDC
DREWRY, CHRISTOPHER R.CHICAGOILHATHAM & WATKINS LLP
DUHAMEL, WILLIAM F.SAN FRANCISCOCAROUTE ONE INVESTMENT COMPANY
ERNST & YOUNG PACWASHINGTONDC
EWALD, THOMAS E.DELAFIELDWIEWALD AUTO DEALER
EYE OF THE TIGER PACSPRINGFIELDVA
FAULKNER, JUDITH R.MOUNT HOREBWIEPIC
FLEXPOINT MEDIA INC.NEW ALBANYOH
FMR LLC PAC – FEDERAL (FIDELITY PAC)BOSTONMA
FOREST COUNTY POTAWATOMI COMMUNITYCRANDONWI
FOX, BRENT T.JANESVILLEWIHENDRICKS HOLDING COMPANY INC.
GAGE, MARY B.WILLIAMS BAYWIRETIRED
GILBERTSON, MICHAEL O.JANESVILLEWIGA ARCHITECTURE LLC
GO PAC GOATHENSGA
HARRIS, R. JEFFREYBROOKFIELDWIRETIRED
HAWKINS, JAMES W.JUPITERFLRETIRED
HEGYI, ALSOUTHPORTVAFIRST FINANCIAL
HENDRICKS, DIANEBELOITWIHENDRICKS HOLDING COMPANY INC
HENDRICKS, KIMBERLEE K.JANESVILLEWIRETIRED
Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America PACWASHINGTONDC
INNOVATION PACALEXANDRIAVA
INT’L UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 139PEWAUKEEWI
INVESTMENT COMPANY INSTITUTE PAC (ICI PAC)WASHINGTONDC
JENSEN, HOLLY K.MADISONWIRETIRED
JENSEN, JAY S.MADISONWICLASEN QUALITY CHOCOLATE
JOHNSON, ANNJANESVILLEWIRETIRED
JOHNSON, JIM L.JANESVILLEWIJOHNSON ACQUISITIONS
JONES, PAULMILWAUKEEWIHARLEY-DAVIDSON
JPMORGAN CHASE & CO. FEDERAL PACWASHINGTONDC
KENNEDY, DIANE L.JANESVILLEWIRETIRED
KENNEDY, KARENJANESVILLEWIHOMEMAKER
KENNEDY, STEPHEN M.JANESVILLEWIRETIRED
KENNEDY, WILLIAM E.JANESVILLEWIRETIRED
LEIPOLD, CRAIGRACINEWIMINNESOTA WILD HOCKEY
LEIPOLD, HELENRACINEWIJOHNSON OUTDOORS
LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY – PACBOSTONMA
LYONS, PATRICK R.JANESVILLEWIJANESVILLE SAND & GRAVEL CO.
MAJORITY COMMITTEE PACBAKERSFIELDCA
MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY PACSPRINGFIELDMA
MCKENNA, DIAMONDMILTONWIDIAMOND ASSETS
MCKENNA, MIKEMILTONWIDIAMOND ASSETTS
MINAHAN, DANIEL J.FOX POINTWICONTINENTAL PROPERTIES CO. INC
MINAHAN, SUSAN W.FOX POINTWIRETIRED
MORGAN STANLEY PACNEW YORKNY
MORTGAGE BANKERS ASSOCIATION PACWASHINGTONDC
MORTGAGE GUARANTY INSURANCE CORPORATION PACMILWAUKEEWI
MUTZ, GREGORY T.CHICAGOILAMLI RESIDENTIAL
NATIONAL ASSOC OF MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANIES PACINDIANAPOLISIN
National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors PACFALLS CHURCHVA
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS PAC (RPAC)CHICAGOIL
NATIONAL VENTURE CAPITAL ASSOCIATION VENTUREPACWASHINGTONDC
NECAPACWASHINGTONDC
NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY PACNEW YORKNY
NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE INDIVIDUAL PACMILWAUKEEWI
PEREZ, CATHERINECHICAGOILHOMEMAKER
PEREZ, WILLIAMNAPLESFLRETIRED
PINCHUK, LEE J.LAKE FORESTILHOMEMAKER
PINCHUK, NICHOLAS T.LAKE FORESTILSNAP-ON INC.
PPG INDUSTRIES INC PACPITTSBURGHPA
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS PACWASHINGTONDC
PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY PACDES MOINESIA
PROSPERITY ACTION INC. PACJANESVILLEWI
PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL INC. FEDERAL PACNEWARKNJ
RABINOWITZ, MICHAELMIAMI BEACHFLMAXIM GROUP LLC
REES-JONES, TREVOR D.DALLASTXCHIEF OIL AND GAS
REGIONS FINANCIAL CORPORATION PACWASHINGTONDC
REPUBLICAN GOVERNANCE GROUP TUESDAY GROUP PACTAMPAFL
ROBINSON, DAVIDJANESVILLEWIRETIRED
ROBINSON, REBECCAJANESVILLEWIRETIRED
ROCK HOLDINGS INC. PACLANSINGMI
ROWAN, CAROLYNGREENWICHCTCAROLYN ROWAN COLLECTION
ROWAN, MARC J.GREENWICHCTAPOLLO GLOBAL MANAGEMENT
ROWE, JOHN W.NAPLESFLRETIRED
RYAN, PATRICK G.WINNETKAILINCISENT TECHNOLOGIES
RYAN, SHIRLEY ANNWINNETKAILHOMEMAKER
SAGUI, GARYPALM BEACH GARDENSFLRETIRED
SCHLIFSKE, JOHN E.ELM GROVEWINORTHWESTERN MUTUAL
SCHLIFSKE, KIM C.ELM GROVEWIHOMEMAKER
SCHLOEMER, ANDREAMENOMONEE FALLSWIRETIRED
SCHLOEMER, JAMES H.MENOMONEE FALLSWICONTINENTAL PROPERTIES COMPANY INC.
SCHUH, KONYA D.JANESVILLEWIHENDRICKS COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
SCHUH, MATTHEWJANESVILLEWISCHUH PLUMBING CONTRACTORS
SCHWARZMAN, CHRISTINENEW YORKNYRETIRED
SCHWARZMAN, STEPHENNEW YORKNYBLACKSTONE
SCRIVNER, DOUGLASLOS ALTOS HILLSCANOT EMPLOYED
SENTRY INSURANCE A MUTUAL CO FEDERAL PACSTEVENS POINTWI
SENTRY INSURANCE A MUTUAL COMPANY FEDERAL PACMADISONWI
STATE FARM FEDERAL PACBLOOMINGTONIL
STEIL VICTORY FUNDJANESVILLEWI
STEPHENSON, BETHATLANTAGARETIRED
STEPHENSON, SCOTTATLANTAGAVERISK ANALYTICS
STORY, KENDRAJANESVILLEWIRETIRED
STORY, MICHAEL W.JANESVILLEWIRETIRED
SYNCHRONY FINANCIAL EMPLOYEES PAC (SYNCPAC)STAMFORDCT
THE CAPITAL GROUP COMPANIES INC PACLOS ANGELESCA
THE CARLYLE GROUP INC. PAC (AKA CARLYLE PAC’)WASHINGTONDC
THRIVENT FINANCIAL FOR LUTHERANSAPPLETONWI
TRANSAMERICA CORPORATION PACWASHINGTONDC
TRIGG, ADAMLARCHMONTNYRBC CAPITAL MARKETS
TRIGG, ERINLARCHMONTNYDORSEY & WHITNEY LLP
TRUNZO, ANNEBROOKFIELDWIHOMEMAKER
TRUNZO, ROBERT N.BROOKFIELDWITHE CUNA MUTUAL GROUP
UBS AMERICAS INC. PAC (UBS PAC)STAMFORDCT
UIHLEIN, DAVID V.MILWAUKEEWIRETIRED
UPSPACATLANTAGA
WALL, TERRENCE R.MIDDLETONWIT. WALL ENTERPRISES
WEHRLE, H B. IIICHARLESTONWVRETIRED
Wells Fargo & Co Employees Good Government Federal Fund IIMINNEAPOLISMN
WENDT, GREGSAN FRANCISCOCACAPITAL GROUP
WILEY, LAWRENCEMADISONWIEPIC
YOUNG, FRED M.RACINEWIRETIRED
YOUNG, SANDRARACINEWIHOMEMAKER

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

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