Eric Hovde, Tim Michels and Kwik Trip co-founder Donald Zeitlow have each given the legal maximum of $20k, as have billionaire GOP megadonors the Uihleins and Diane Hendricks and her children.
With one week to go before the April 1 election, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford, the left-leaning candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court, has nearly doubled the direct fundraising of her opponent, Brad Schimel, in direct fundraising, by a total of about $21 million to about $10 million. Those are donations made directly to the candidate.
But political groups like super PACs can also spend and advertise independently of the campaigns. In this category, independent groups supporting Schimel, led by about $15 million from Elon Musk’s super PACs, have reported spending $31 million compared to $16 million for independent groups supporting Crawford, according to an analysis by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, which tracks political spending in the state.
That gives Schimel a campaign finance total of about $41 million to Crawford’s $36 million, with about one week to go before the election.
State law caps the total amount one person can give to a candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court at $20,000 per election cycle. Below is a list of donors who have given that maximum amount, according to the state’s campaign finance reporting database and the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
However, a loophole in Wisconsin campaign finance law allows political parties to accept unlimited amounts, and also to give unlimited amounts to political candidates, effectively providing a way around the legal caps.
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin has given the left leaning candidate for state Supreme Court, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford, more than $10 million for her campaign. By comparison, the Republican Party of Wisconsin has given the right-leaning candidate, Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel, more than $9 million.
The winner of the election will earn a 10-year term on the state’s highest court.
Donors who have given Schimel the legal maximum $20,000
| DONOR | CITY & STATE | NOTES |
| Dave L. Bahl | Waukesha, WI | president, Weldall Manufacturing |
| Suzanne Barry | Brookfield, WI | co-owner of tool manufacturing company Speed Systems |
| William E. Barry | Brookfield, WI | co-owner of tool manufacturing company Speed Systems |
| Willard Berrien | Milwaukee, WI | executive |
| Andrea Bryant | Waukesha, WI | retired |
| Glenda Buholzer | Monroe, WI | master cheesemaker & co-owner, Buhozer Brothers Cheese company |
| Susan Buholzer | Monroe, WI | co-owner, Buhozer Brothers Cheese company |
| Thea R. Buholzer | Monroe, WI | co-owner, Buhozer Brothers Cheese company |
| Ronald, Cameron | Little Rock, AR | Arkansas chicken mogul |
| Jerry Couri | Waukesha, WI | insurance |
| Frank P. Crivello | Milwaukee, WI | chairman and lawyer |
| Jere Dhein | Green Bay, WI | retired |
| Craig Dickman | Green Bay, WI | |
| Kevin Dretzka | Lake Geneva, WI | self employed |
| Theresa Dvorak | La Valle, WI | |
| Patrick J. English | Milwaukee, WI | executive |
| Rachel English | Wauwatosa, WI | physician |
| Robert P. Fettig | Lake Geneva, WI | CEO |
| Clark Fischer | Muskego, WI | retired |
| Brent A. Fox | Janesville, WI | son of Diane Hendricks |
| Remi Harris | Mequon, WI | |
| Diane Hendricks | Beloit, WI | billionaire co-founder of ABC Supply Co. |
| Kim Hendricks | Janesville, WI | daughter of Diane Hendricks |
| Eric Hovde | Madison, WI | former U.S. Senate candidate |
| J.C. Huizenga | Grand Rapids, MI | son of deceased billionaire H. Wayne Huizenga |
| Michael F Hupy | Milwaukee, WI | attorney |
| Glen F Jonas | Cedarburg, WI | CEO |
| Ted Kellner | Milwaukee, WI | founder and chairman of Fiduciary Management, a money management firm |
| Lynn Kieffer | Princeton, WI | retired |
| Steve Kieffer | Princeton, WI | retired |
| Todd Koss | Fond du Lac, WI | |
| Gregg Kunes | Lake Geneva, WI | Auto Dealer Owner |
| Bonnie B. Lee | Pewaukee, WI | Executive Director, 1848 Project |
| Craig Leipold | Racine, WI | Chairman |
| Lorissa Link | Minong, WI | |
| Troy J. Link | Minong, WI | |
| Keith Mardak | Milwaukee, WI | retired |
| Anne L. Merkel | Marshfield, WI | retired |
| Timothy J. Michels | Brownsville, WI | former GOP candidate for governor |
| Daniel J. Minahan | Fox Point, WI | real estate executive |
| James Moeller | Waunakee, WI | auto dealer owner |
| Joseph T. Pregont | Janesville, WI | Prent Corp |
| Augustin Ramirez | Hartland, WI | Chairman |
| Thomas Rastin | Mount Vernon, OH | |
| Tammara M. Roehl | Marshfield, WI | |
| Keith Rozolis | Lake Geneva, WI | Manager |
| Lauren Schiff | Westport, CT | |
| James H. Schloemer | Menomonee Falls, WI | Real Estate |
| Timothy Schmidt | Nashville, TN | |
| Laura Seidensticker | Lake Forest, IL | |
| John E. Shaffer | Chicago, IL | Real Estate |
| Jean L. Shannon | Wisconsin Rapids, WI | |
| John Silseth | Brookfield, WI | Banking CEO |
| Carol G. Taylor | Waukesha, WI | Homemaker |
| Elizabeth Uihlein | Lake Bluff, IL | billionaire co-founder, Uline Shipping Supplies |
| Richard Uihlein | Lake Bluff, IL | billionaire co-founder, Uline Shipping Supplies |
| Terrance R. Wall | Middleton, WI | WI Real Estate Development |
| Rick Waller | Kenosha, WI | Executive |
| Cathy White | River Hills, WI | Homemaker |
| Michael White | River Hills, WI | Owner of Rite-Hite, industrial equipment manufacturer |
| Karen Wright | Mt Vernon, OH | Ariel Corp |
| Fred M. Young | Racine, WI | retired |
| Donald Zietlow | Onalaska, WI | Kwik Trip co-founder |
The Badger Project is a nonpartisan, citizen-supported journalism nonprofit in Wisconsin.
Categories: Investigations, Politics
Give me a free hat