Big Money Bulletin PERMIT NO

NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID MADISON, WI Big Money Bulletin PERMIT NO. 1069

203 South Paterson Street, Suite 100 Madison, WI 53703-3689 608 255-4260; www.wisdc.org Wis. Dem. Party Rakes It In Wis. Supreme Court Special Interest Follies The state Democratic Party raised $7.5 million from late Shattered Records Tomato Magnate Comes to Wis. AFP Makes Its Picks March through June–10 times more than the state Republican Candidates and outside special inter- Party. In just six years, combined fundraising by the two state est groups spent a record-shattering $10 A new out-of-state group has entered the money The Koch political group, Americans for parties has skyrocketed, from $1 million in the first six months of million in the Wisconsin Supreme Court game in Wisconsin. It’s called “Make Liberty Win,” Prosperity-Wis, has made its initial endorsements 2014 to just shy of $12.9 million in the first six months of 2020. race last April, a Wisconsin Democracy and it’s based in Alexandria, Va. In the first six in the legislative races this fall. Like Make Liberty The leap in fundraising since 2014 is the result of sweeping Campaign review found. months of the year, it spent about $70,700 on canvass- Win, it is endorsing Rep. Stafsholt for Senate in th changes to campaign finance laws enacted in 2015 by former Outside group spending topped $5 ing and literature to back Republican candidates in the the 10 district. And it is backing Cabral-Guevara th Republican Gov. Scott Walker and the GOP-controlled million for the first time ever in a high 10th Senate District, and the 29th and 55th Assembly in the Assembly 55 . legislature. Those changes included allowing individuals to give court race. Dane County Circuit Judge Jill Districts, according to paperwork filed with the state. It is also endorsing Dan Kapanke, who is run- unlimited amounts to political parties (the old limit was Karofsky, spent $2.7 million, a single- $10,000). Make Liberty Win is supporting GOP Rep. Rob ning to replace Sen. Jen Shilling, who is not seek- candidate record in a state Supreme Court Stafsholt, of New Richmond, who is challenging ing reelection. Kapanke lost to Shilling by just 61 The top individual contributors to the state Democratic Party race. freshman Democratic Sen. Patty Schachtner, of Som- votes last time around, and Republican strategists in the first six months of 2020 were: Of the $10 million spent by the erset, in the Senate 10th District. Schachtner won a are hoping this will be a pickup for them, too. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Chicago, $2,490,000; groups and candidates, 51 percent was surprising victory in January 2018 in a special elec- Others endorsed by AFP include: Karla Jurvetson, a Los Altos, CA. Physician, $2,300,000; spent by Karofsky and groups who sup- tion in a traditionally Republican district, and GOP ported her, 47 percent was spent by Dan strategists view her as one of the most vulnerable Rep Mary Felzkowski, who is running in the th Linked-In co-founder Reid Hoffman, Mountain View, CA, Kelly and groups who supported him, and Democratic senators running for reelection. 12 Senate district for the seat Tom Tiffany is va- $750,000; cating. 2 percent was spent by candidate Ed Fal- Make Liberty Win is also backing GOP candi- Elise Lawson, a Madison surgeon, $540,000; lone, who was eliminated in the February dates facing Aug. 11 primaries in two open-seat As- Rep. Shae Sortwell, who is running for Sage Weil, of Madison, a software engineer who founded primary, and groups who supported him. sembly races – Clint Moses in the Assembly 29th and reelection in the 2nd Assembly district. Ceph, WebRing, DreamHost, and InkTank, $540,000; Special interest groups that backed Rachael Ann Cabral-Guevara in the Assembly 55th. Rep. Shannon Zimmerman, who is running Karofsky spent nearly $2.5 million. th George Soros, a New York City investor and philanthropist, On its website, in its “About Us” section, it says: for reelection in the 30 Assembly district. $490,000; Groups that supported incumbent Justice “Make Liberty Win is dedicated to deploying activists th Dan Kelly spent more than $2.5 million. Bonnie Lee, who is running in the 14 As- Stacey Herzing, of San Juan Capistrano, CA, a former to state legislatures across the country” to back candi- sembly district, which is held by Rep. Robyn Vin- Herzing University executive, $390,000; Topping the list of outside spenders dates that have a “passion for the principles of limited was A Better Wisconsin Together Politi- ing, who won with the slimmest margin in the As- Robert Price, of La Jolla, CA, chairman of PriceSmart Inc., government.” cal Fund, which doled out nearly $1.9 sembly last time around. $280,000; million on disclosed independent expend- One of its chief backers is Chris Rufer of Wood- And Sen. Alberta Darling, who is running for S. Donald Sussman, of Portland, ME, a hedge fund manager, itures in favor of Karofsky. land, California, who gave the group $250,000. An reelection in Senate District 8. $250,000; outspoken libertarian, he’s the founder of the Morning Behind A Better Wisconsin was Wis- Star Company, which processes 25 percent of Califor- AFP has spent about $15 million over the last Eric Schmidt, of Palo Alto, CA, former Google CEO, consin Manufacturers & Commerce, the 10 years to help elect candidates that support its $249,000; nia’s tomato crop. He’s swimming in tomato paste! state’s largest business organization, He also gave former Gov. Scott Walker $4,000 in rightwing agenda. Lynde Uihlein, a Milwaukee philanthropist, $190,000; which doled out an estimated $1.1 million 2013-2014. William Reeves of Honolulu, a hedge fund mgr., $140,000; in secret phony issue ad spending for television ads that attacked Karofsky. Stephen Silberstein, of Belvedere, CA, retired co-founder of Innovative Interfaces, $140,000; Rounding out the top three group spenders was the Republican State Lead- Paul J. Brown and Lisa Mennet, of Seattle, WA, $115,000 ership Committee, which spent about Upcoming Referendums on Gerrymandering each. Brown is a retired photojournalist and Mennet is founder of $900,000, mostly on television ads and a Seattle children’s mental health services clinic. At least nine counties will have advisory referen-  Dunn County text messages to support Kelly and attack dums on their ballots on November 3 to give their Robert Rubin, of New York City, former U.S. Treasury Karofsky.  Iowa County citizens a chance to express themselves on whether  Jefferson County secretary and retired bank executive, $100,000. they’d like to ban gerrymandering and replace it with  The top individual contributors to the state Republican Party a process of independent, nonpartisan redistricting. If Kenosha County in the first six months of 2020 were: you live in the following nine counties, please vote  Rusk County Elizabeth Uihlein, of Lake Forest, IL, co-owner of Uline yes on this referendum: Also, there will be one in the City of Barron in Bar- Corp., $100,000;  Adams ron County.  Brown County Diane Hendricks, of Beloit, owner of ABC Supply, Congratulations, by the way, to all the grassroots ac-  $100,000; Crawford County tivists who did the heavy lifting to get these referen-  Door County dums on the ballot! Don Zietlow, of La Crosse, owner of Kwik Trip, $100,000. Wis. Dem. Party Rakes It In Wis. Supreme Court Special Interest Follies The state Democratic Party raised $7.5 million from late Shattered Records Tomato Magnate Comes to Wis. AFP Makes Its Picks March through June–10 times more than the state Republican Candidates and outside special inter- Party. In just six years, combined fundraising by the two state est groups spent a record-shattering $10 A new out-of-state group has entered the money The Koch political group, Americans for parties has skyrocketed, from $1 million in the first six months of million in the Wisconsin Supreme Court game in Wisconsin. It’s called “Make Liberty Win,” Prosperity-Wis, has made its initial endorsements 2014 to just shy of $12.9 million in the first six months of 2020. race last April, a Wisconsin Democracy and it’s based in Alexandria, Va. In the first six in the legislative races this fall. Like Make Liberty The leap in fundraising since 2014 is the result of sweeping Campaign review found. months of the year, it spent about $70,700 on canvass- Win, it is endorsing Rep. Stafsholt for Senate in th changes to campaign finance laws enacted in 2015 by former Outside group spending topped $5 ing and literature to back Republican candidates in the the 10 district. And it is backing Cabral-Guevara th Republican Gov. Scott Walker and the GOP-controlled million for the first time ever in a high 10th Senate District, and the 29th and 55th Assembly in the Assembly 55 . legislature. Those changes included allowing individuals to give court race. Dane County Circuit Judge Jill Districts, according to paperwork filed with the state. It is also endorsing Dan Kapanke, who is run- unlimited amounts to political parties (the old limit was Karofsky, spent $2.7 million, a single- $10,000). Make Liberty Win is supporting GOP Rep. Rob ning to replace Sen. Jen Shilling, who is not seek- candidate record in a state Supreme Court Stafsholt, of New Richmond, who is challenging ing reelection. Kapanke lost to Shilling by just 61 The top individual contributors to the state Democratic Party race. freshman Democratic Sen. Patty Schachtner, of Som- votes last time around, and Republican strategists in the first six months of 2020 were: Of the $10 million spent by the erset, in the Senate 10th District. Schachtner won a are hoping this will be a pickup for them, too. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Chicago, $2,490,000; groups and candidates, 51 percent was surprising victory in January 2018 in a special elec- Others endorsed by AFP include: Karla Jurvetson, a Los Altos, CA. Physician, $2,300,000; spent by Karofsky and groups who sup- tion in a traditionally Republican district, and GOP ported her, 47 percent was spent by Dan strategists view her as one of the most vulnerable Rep Mary Felzkowski, who is running in the th Linked-In co-founder Reid Hoffman, Mountain View, CA, Kelly and groups who supported him, and Democratic senators running for reelection. 12 Senate district for the seat Tom Tiffany is va- $750,000; cating. 2 percent was spent by candidate Ed Fal- Make Liberty Win is also backing GOP candi- Elise Lawson, a Madison surgeon, $540,000; lone, who was eliminated in the February dates facing Aug. 11 primaries in two open-seat As- Rep. Shae Sortwell, who is running for Sage Weil, of Madison, a software engineer who founded primary, and groups who supported him. sembly races – Clint Moses in the Assembly 29th and reelection in the 2nd Assembly district. Ceph, WebRing, DreamHost, and InkTank, $540,000; Special interest groups that backed Rachael Ann Cabral-Guevara in the Assembly 55th. Rep. Shannon Zimmerman, who is running Karofsky spent nearly $2.5 million. th George Soros, a New York City investor and philanthropist, On its website, in its “About Us” section, it says: for reelection in the 30 Assembly district. $490,000; Groups that supported incumbent Justice “Make Liberty Win is dedicated to deploying activists th Dan Kelly spent more than $2.5 million. Bonnie Lee, who is running in the 14 As- Stacey Herzing, of San Juan Capistrano, CA, a former to state legislatures across the country” to back candi- sembly district, which is held by Rep. Robyn Vin- Herzing University executive, $390,000; Topping the list of outside spenders dates that have a “passion for the principles of limited was A Better Wisconsin Together Politi- ing, who won with the slimmest margin in the As- Robert Price, of La Jolla, CA, chairman of PriceSmart Inc., government.” cal Fund, which doled out nearly $1.9 sembly last time around. $280,000; million on disclosed independent expend- One of its chief backers is Chris Rufer of Wood- And Sen. Alberta Darling, who is running for S. Donald Sussman, of Portland, ME, a hedge fund manager, itures in favor of Karofsky. land, California, who gave the group $250,000. An reelection in Senate District 8. $250,000; outspoken libertarian, he’s the founder of the Morning Behind A Better Wisconsin was Wis- Star Company, which processes 25 percent of Califor- AFP has spent about $15 million over the last Eric Schmidt, of Palo Alto, CA, former Google CEO, consin Manufacturers & Commerce, the 10 years to help elect candidates that support its $249,000; nia’s tomato crop. He’s swimming in tomato paste! state’s largest business organization, He also gave former Gov. Scott Walker $4,000 in rightwing agenda. Lynde Uihlein, a Milwaukee philanthropist, $190,000; which doled out an estimated $1.1 million 2013-2014. William Reeves of Honolulu, a hedge fund mgr., $140,000; in secret phony issue ad spending for television ads that attacked Karofsky. Stephen Silberstein, of Belvedere, CA, retired co-founder of Innovative Interfaces, $140,000; Rounding out the top three group spenders was the Republican State Lead- Paul J. Brown and Lisa Mennet, of Seattle, WA, $115,000 ership Committee, which spent about Upcoming Referendums on Gerrymandering each. Brown is a retired photojournalist and Mennet is founder of $900,000, mostly on television ads and a Seattle children’s mental health services clinic. At least nine counties will have advisory referen-  Dunn County text messages to support Kelly and attack dums on their ballots on November 3 to give their Robert Rubin, of New York City, former U.S. Treasury Karofsky.  Iowa County citizens a chance to express themselves on whether  Jefferson County secretary and retired bank executive, $100,000. they’d like to ban gerrymandering and replace it with  The top individual contributors to the state Republican Party a process of independent, nonpartisan redistricting. If Kenosha County in the first six months of 2020 were: you live in the following nine counties, please vote  Rusk County Elizabeth Uihlein, of Lake Forest, IL, co-owner of Uline yes on this referendum: Also, there will be one in the City of Barron in Bar- Corp., $100,000;  Adams ron County.  Brown County Diane Hendricks, of Beloit, owner of ABC Supply, Congratulations, by the way, to all the grassroots ac-  $100,000; Crawford County tivists who did the heavy lifting to get these referen-  Door County dums on the ballot! Don Zietlow, of La Crosse, owner of Kwik Trip, $100,000. NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID MADISON, WI Big Money Bulletin PERMIT NO. 1069

203 South Paterson Street, Suite 100 Madison, WI 53703-3689 608 255-4260; www.wisdc.org Yes, I want to help the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign! Yes, I want to help the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign! Yes, I want to help the Wisconswinw Dwe.mwioscdrca.ocryg C ampaign! www.wisdc.org 608-255-4260 608-255-4260 www.wisdc.org 608-255-4260

Name(s) ______Name(s) ______Address ______Address ______City ______State ______Zip ______City ______State ______Zip ______Phone ______Email ______Phone ______Email ______

If you Ifare you interested are interested in making in making automatic automatic monthly monthly orr quarterlyquarterly gifts, gifts, call call 608-25650-84-25650- 4or26 email0 or email us atus w ati swdicsd@[email protected] toto sign up. up.

I want Ito want support to support WDC WDC with with a contribution a contribution of: of: $50 $50 $100 $100 $150 $150 $250 $250 Other Other ______

I preferI preferto pay to by pay by Check Check Visa Visa MasterCardMasterCard

Credit CreditCard numberCard number ______Exp. DateExp. _Date______S Securityecurity CodeCode ______Name as it appears on card: ______Name as it appears on card: ______SSendend tthishis fformorm wwithith yyourour ccontributionontribution t too W WDCDC a at:t: 203203 S S.. Pater Patersonson S Street,treet, Send tSSuitehuiites f o10100,r0m * Madisonw Maithdi soyon uWI, rWI c53703-3689o *n 537trib03u-3689tion to WDC at: 203 S. Paterson Street, Suite 10Thank0 * Ma yyou!ou!di so Yourn, WI donationdonation * 5370 isis3 -3689 tax-deductible.tax ded uctible. BMBAUG20ANNRPT16 Thank you! Your donation is tax deductible. ANNRPT16 PLACE STAMP HERE

FTTFADDDFAATAAFDDADTATDAFDTDFDTTTADAADADTAFDADFFDDFTDAAADTDDTDDDA

203 S Paterson Street Suite 100 Madison WI 53703-3689