Campaign Financing
GOP dominated in cash, turnout
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Gov. Scott Walker and the Republicans rode to victory in the Nov. 4 elections because they got more votes. But money and redistricting did play a huge, perhaps decisive role.
Wisconsin Watch Media Partners Center (https://partners.wisconsinwatch.org/tag/mary-burke/)
Gov. Scott Walker and the Republicans rode to victory in the Nov. 4 elections because they got more votes. But money and redistricting did play a huge, perhaps decisive role.
During this roughly 13-month period, Walker raised a total of $24.5 million, compared to Burke’s $15.5 million. He received about $10.8 million from other states, or 44 percent of his total. Burke attracted $3.2 million in out-of-state donations, or 21 percent of her total.
Walker’s message is that he is taking Wisconsin forward while Burke would drag it backwards. Burke’s message is that Walker has done a lousy job and she can do better.
No one disputes that drunken driving is a serious problem in Wisconsin. But the candidates for governor and attorney general differ in how they would address it.
Campaigns shroud fundraisers in as much secrecy as Yale’s Skull and Bones society. The giving of money to politicians occurs, as much as possible, out of public view.
According to Walker, it’s up to the political parties to open their caucuses, which they could do without a change in state law. He’s right on that point, and we’re still waiting.
In the first seven months of this year, Walker spent $7 million to Burke’s $3.7 million. Downloading this data and crunching the numbers yields some useful information.
Hulsey, who has reported raising less than $2,500, mostly from himself, is up against well-backed rivals who intend to spend millions.
Walker has raised nearly $4.6 million so far in 2014, or 55 percent of his total, from people who live in other states. That compares to Burke’s out-of-state total of $1.2 million, or 34 percent of her receipts this year.
Her personal wealth is seen as a key asset to her campaign. But part of her game plan is to impugn Walker’s support. “I do point out how much money he raises from outside interests,” Burke says. “I think it strikes the people of Wisconsin as wrong. And it should.”
Donations to Walker of $1,000 or more accounted for $2.6 million, more than half his total take. Burke got about $870,000 in donations of at least $1,000, or 68 percent of her total, excluding herself.
Grothman’s bill would raise the threshold for when donors to state and local campaigns must disclose their occupations and eliminate the requirement that the donor’s principal place of employment be disclosed.