$35 million (so far): Uihleins, Hendricks load up Wisconsin GOP thru loophole

Using a big loophole in state law, state Democrats have dominated fundraising recently. This year, its heavy hitters have been vastly outspent by the state’s Republican megadonors.

By Peter Cameron, THE BADGER PROJECT

Before 2015, the most a person could give in annual political donations in Wisconsin was $10,000.

So far this year, the conservative billionaire megadonor Elizabeth Uihlein has given the Wisconsin Republican Party nearly $19 million, while her husband Richard Uihlein has given the party nearly $10 million. Diane Hendricks, the chairwoman of ABC Supply Inc. and the richest self-made woman in the world, according to Forbes, has given the party $9 million to date in 2026.

How is this legal? A monumental 2014 U.S. Supreme Court decision called McCutcheon v. FEC ruled that annual caps on total political donations from one person, like the $10,000 limit in Wisconsin, were unconstitutional.

That decision blasted a gaping loophole in campaign finance law in Wisconsin, allowing an ever-increasing flow of cash into the bank accounts of state political candidates here, even for lower offices like state legislators, in huge amounts never seen before. That money pays for, among other things, political ads that saturate the airwaves and jam mailboxes with fliers.

Wisconsin has limits on what one person can donate to a candidate, but nothing on what parties can receive and give. The state Legislature could pass a cap on donations to parties, and Democrats have introduced bills that would do this in recent years, but Republicans who control the body have not been interested.

The loophole allows megadonors to bypass donation limits to candidates by giving huge amounts to the political parties, which can then turn and give unlimited amounts to candidates.

Unable to change the rules, Democrats have instead used them to their advantage, exploiting the loophole in recent years, using their billionaire backers to give huge donations to the party, which then rerouted major funds to candidates. That has given the political Left a major fundraising edge on the GOP.

But this year, Wisconsin’s conservative megadonors have given Republicans a big head start with their massive contributions.

The millions the trio donates to Republicans every campaign season are just pocket change for these billionaires. Forbes estimates Diane Hendricks’ total wealth at nearly $22 billion, and the Uihleins’ worth at $8 billion.

And as they do every election year, the trio also are giving huge sums this year to super PACs, independent political organizations, which can raise and spend unlimited amounts thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court decision Citizens United.

Hendricks made her largest recorded donation ever this year, $25 million, to MAGA Inc., which supports President Donald Trump and his interests, according to their mandatory reports to the Federal Elections Commission.

Richard Uihlein has already given super PACs more than $30 million this year, according to his reports to the FEC.

But super PACs cannot coordinate with candidates and their campaigns, making their cash and advertising somewhat less effective than those given directly to the campaigns.

That’s what makes the political party loophole in Wisconsin so enticing for the ultrawealthy. They can send millions directly to candidates, where the funds can be used however the campaigns see fit.

So Hendricks and the Uihleins appear to be trying this year to head off what Wisconsin Democrats hope is their first real chance to take full control of state government in almost two decades.

If they do, will they want to close the loophole that has been so fruitful for them?

Anna Kristoff assisted with this report.

The Badger Project is an independent news nonprofit in Wisconsin.