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Republican candidates in top state Senate races outraise opponents
All but one of the Republican candidates in top state Senate races had more cash on hand for the home stretch of campaigning than their Democratic opponents in the November elections.
And that was in the far northwestern state race where incumbent Democrat Janet Bewley had the advantage.
Here’s the rundown in the state Senate money race. Republicans hold an 18-15 edge over Democrats in the state Senate.
» GOP challenger Andre Jacque outraised Democratic Sen. Caleb Frostman in their rematch for northeastern Wisconsin’s 1st Senate District.
Jacque, R-De Pere, reported $50,416 in receipts and $12,913 in expenses between July 31 and Aug. 31. He finished with $89,454 cash on hand. His receipts included $746 for postage from the Committee to Elect a Republican Senate.
Also, his spending included paying off a debt of $11,730 for TV ads from the June special election, which Frostman won with 51.4 percent of the vote.
Frostman, D-Sturgeon Bay, raised $36,492, spent $9,156 and had $81,802 in the bank. Just over half of what Frostman raised came from committees. That included $7,165 from the State Senate Democratic Committee to cover staffing costs.
» Republican Rep. Dale Kooyenga, who’s running for the open 5th Senate District that includes Milwaukee’s western suburbs, raised $42,839, spent $18,763 and had $293,910 in the bank. He received a $7,844 in-kind donation from the state GOP.
Democrat Julie Henszey, a corporate trainer and outdoor adventure guide, raised $32,463, spent $10,476 and had $65,383 in the bank. The SSDC made $6,939 in in-kind donations to her campaign for staff wages and polling.
» Top Democratic target Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, raised $38,206 in the reporting period, spent $19,497 and had $491,520 in the bank. He received in-kind donations of $10,775 from the Committee to Elect a Republican Senate for media-videos, renting a hall for a fundraiser and postage.
Democratic rival Kriss Marion, an organic farmer, raised $30,516, spent $20,160 and had $66,559 in the bank. The SSDC gave her $5,184 in in-kind donations.
» Republican Sen. Roger Roth, of Appleton, raised $26,599, spent $3,040 and had $307,933 in the bank.
Challenger Lee Snodgrass, the Outagamie County Democratic Party chair, raised $27,023, spent $16,339 and had $45,586 in the bank. The SSDC gave her an in-kind donation of $1,818 for campaign staff wages, while Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling’s campaign gave her $2,000.
» In the open 23rd Senate District, which includes the Chippewa Valley area, Republican Rep. Kathy Bernier, of Lake Hallie, raised $27,249, spent $15,684 and had $134,938 in the bank. CERS gave her an in-kind contribution of $10,000 for media-TV.
Democrat Chris Kapsner, an ER physician, raised $16,241, spent $10,938 and had $44,036 in the bank. He received $5,542 in in-kind donations from the SSDC for staff salaries and other costs.
» Democratic Sen. Janet Bewley, of Ashland, raised $46,782, spent $29,669 and had $93,109 in the bank. Her receipts included $26,471 in in-kind donations from the SSDC for staff, polling and other costs.
Republican James Bolen, a resort owner, raised $16,332, spent $26,785 and had $39,497 in the bank. His receipts included $10,317 in in-kind donations from CERS for TV and radio.
» In the open 31st Senate District, which covers the Eau Claire area, Democrat Jeff Smith, a former state representative, raised $22,671, spent $11,921 and had $17,107 in the bank. He received $8,684 in contributions from committees last month after he won a three-way Democratic primary.
Farmer Mel Pittman, R-Plum City, raised $9,220, spent $10,722 and had $54,914 in the bank. He received no committee contributions during the period.
The Capitol Report is written by editorial staff at WisPolitics.com, a nonpartisan, Madison-based news service that specializes in coverage of government and politics, and is distributed for publication by members of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association.
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