Using a big legal loophole, state Democrats have dominated fundraising recently. This year, its heavy hitters have been vastly outspent by the state’s Republican megadonors.
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.
Megadonors from the right, Diane Hendricks and Richard Uihlein, and the left, George Soros and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, have each given their preferred party at least $500k this year. Elon has spent even more.
Richard Uihlein, Eric Hovde and Tim Michels have each given the maximum. The Waukesha County judge and former state AG has raised more than $3 million so far in his campaign for the state’s highest court.
Republican businessman Tony Wied is favored in the right-leaning district, but trails his Democratic opponent and OB-GYN physician Kristin Lyerly in fundraising.
Rep. Tom Tiffany, the incumbent Republican, has raised about $1.2 million. Right-wing billionaires like the Uihleins, Diane Hendricks of ABC Supply and the Kwik Trip co-founder all made big donations.
Using a loophole in campaign finance law left open by Republicans, the co-founder of LinkedIn and investor in huge tech companies has donated heavily to the state Democratic Party in recent years.