Friday, Apr. 21, 2023
Did half of the contributions to Justice-elect Janet Protasiewicz’s campaign come from outside of Wisconsin?
Just over half, or 52%, of the contributions received by Justice-elect Janet Protasiewicz during her campaign for the Wisconsin Supreme Court came from out of state: $2.9 million out of $5.6 million, according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel analysis.
In addition, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin poured nearly $9 million into supporting Protasiewicz, including donations of $1 million each from out-of-state billionaires — financier and philanthropist George Soros, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and philanthropists Stacy and Lynn Schusterman.
The Journal Sentinel found candidate Daniel Kelly received less funding, including from out of state, with approximately $248,000 out of $2.3 million — 11% — coming from outside Wisconsin.
However, outside groups spent more backing Kelly than Protasiewicz, including $5 million from Fair Courts America, a PAC largely funded by Illinois Republican billionaire Richard Uihlein.
The $42 million-plus race was the most expensive judicial campaign in U.S. history, the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign said.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- Document Cloud Massive influx of out-of-state funds supports Janet Protasiewicz campaign
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel In a campaign drawing record-smashing cash, out-of-state donations flow into Supreme Court race
- Wisconsin Public Radio Janet Protasiewicz far outpaces Dan Kelly in fundraising for hotly contested Wisconsin Supreme Court seat
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Billionaires George Soros, J.B. Pritzker and the Uihleins pour millions into Wisconsin's Supreme Court race in final weeks
- Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Wisconsin Supreme Court Race Shows Need for Campaign Finance Reform
- Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Group, Candidate Spending Tops $42.3M in Supreme Court Race
- AP News Spending in Wisconsin Supreme Court race tops $42 million
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