Wisconsin Republicans receive fundraising boost, state party chair says

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Wisconsin Republican Party has seen a spike in fundraising since the beginning of the year and has exceeded levels raised in 2021 and 2022, according to state party chairman Brian Schimming.

The Republican Party of Wisconsin has raised more money this year in the first three months compared to 2021 and is close to surpassing $692,234 the party raised in 2022 during the same period, Schimming said.

"Our fundraising has been very well the last couple months," Schimming said. "We've raised more money than we did in all of 2021 and very close to all of 2022 right now. Almost all of it is in the state."

Rachel Reisner, a spokeswoman for Schimming, later clarified the party has exceeded fundraising numbers from both years and said they'll announce an exact figure on or before March 27, the deadline when campaigns and state parties file their latest finance reports.

In 2022, the party raised $692,234 from January to March 21, according to campaign finance reports. A year prior, the party collected $397,520 over the first three months of 2021.

Reports filed at the beginning of this year show under Schimming's leadership, the party raised $56,061 from Jan. 1 to Feb. 6. In comparison, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin raised $3.5 million during that same reporting period.

Schimming and Republicans have been playing catchup over the last two election cycles after the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, led by chairman Ben Wikler, secured a 2-to-1 fundraising margin over Republicans.

The fundraising disparity comes on the heels of the high stakes Wisconsin Supreme Court race between Janet Protasiewicz and Dan Kelly, the most expensive contest in state and U.S history.

Schimming talked about how he's been making inroads with members of the grassroots and building the Republican infrastructure since taking over as chair in December during an interview on Wisconsin Eye's Newsmakers program.

"The Democrats are pouring in [money] out of state to flip the court, and that's why Janet Protasiewicz is in this race," Schimming said. "That's why we appreciate the opportunity to contrast with her whether it's on TV, radio or digital."

Since the primary, Protasiewicz' campaign and her allies have spent more than $10.1 million on TV, radio and digital advertising, according to a tally by WisPolitics. They've focused primarily on her support for reproductive rights and criticizing Kelly for his ties to anti-abortion groups and providing legal advice to Republicans surrounding the fake elector scheme.

The groups backing Kelly have spent nearly $5.5 million post-primary largely attacking Protasiewicz' record, accusing her of handing out light sentences and being "soft on crime" while serving as a Milwaukee County judge and former prosecutor.

During the primary, Kelly touted his ability to bring outside money from interest groups as more is expected to funnel into the race ahead of April 4.

Wikler said the party is prepared to compete with whatever amount Kelly and his allies spend in the contest.

"We have been raising money and making sure we can fully fund Janet Protasiewicz," Wikler said. "In the final stretch, who knows what might happen and we will do everything we possibly can to make sure that Dan Kelly and his special interest donors…can't buy this race."