The Capitol Report, produced by WisPolitics.com — a nonpartisan, Madison-based news service that specializes in coverage of government and politics — provides a weekly analysis of issues being debated in Wisconsin state government. It is underwritten by the WNA and produced exclusively for its members. WisPolitics.com President Jeff Mayers is a former editor and reporter for the Associated Press and a former political writer for the Wisconsin State Journal.
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Candidates can be measured on several levels.
Press coverage.
Polling.
And fundraising.
The polling seems to favor Donald Trump as the frontrunner for the GOP nomination.
But he seems to be showing weakness on the fundraising front.
A recent WisPolitics.com news item says GOP presidential contenders Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis each raised more money from Wisconsinites over the first six months of the year than Trump, even though they had a smaller window to fundraise after getting into the race.
Still, Trump detailed more donors in his reports to the FEC and relied less on top-dollar donors for what he brought in, according to a WisPolitics review.
Overall, Haley raised the most among the top seven candidates for the GOP nomination with $139,595 between Jan. 31, shortly before she officially announced her campaign in mid-February, and the end of
June.
DeSantis was next at $109,977, even though he didn’t officially announce his campaign until mid-May. The numbers also don’t include a pair of fundraisers he did in Lake Geneva and Hartland July 11, which
came after the second quarter closed.
Trump, meanwhile, reported $94,938 over the full six-month period review. He formally got into the race last fall.
That means the leading non-Trump candidates together pulled in nearly $250,000 to Trump’s almost $95,000 — meaning elite donors in Wisconsin want an alternative to Trump.
Matt Neumann, whose father Mark Neumann represented the 1st Congressional District, maxed out to DeSantis, serving as host for one of the July 11 fundraisers. He also gave $500 to Haley. Neumann told
WisPolitics he would support Trump if he’s the party’s nominee next fall. But he would prefer someone else. “I don’t believe Trump can win the general election, so we’re supporting anyone but Trump,” Neumann said.
Trump right now is atop the polls with the upcoming first GOP debate scheduled in Milwaukee for Aug. 23. And speculation goes round and round as to whether Trump will even show up.
Why would he risk is frontrunner status by debating a host of rivals?
Meanwhile, on the Democrat side President Biden raised $37,584 from 171 separate Wisconsin donations after announcing his bid April 25.
Former Wisconsin Rapids McMillan Memorial Library Director Ron McCabe and former 1st Congressional District Chair Marlene Ott each gave $2,000 to Biden, the highest dollar amount so far.
The WisPolitics review is a first look at presidential fundraising from Wisconsin donors with the GOP field now largely formed and Biden’s reelection bid formally underway.
On the GOP side, it also reflects a national pattern among Republican challengers to Trump. While they’re pulling in more top donations — $3,300 for the primary and another $3,300 for the general — Trump has more small-dollar donors.
Here’s an overview of the fundraising for the top GOP candidates, based on donations the candidates reported to the FEC. Candidates only have to itemize contributions when an individual donor gives at least $200 or exceeds that amount through multiple contributions.
*Haley took in $139,595 over the first six months of the year from 752
separate Wisconsin donations. Most contributed less than $1,000 over
that time, and 14 donors gave the maximum $6,600 allowed, split
between primary and general elections. Milwaukee business leaders and
philanthropists Ted and Mary Kellner each donated $3,300 to Haley’s
campaign. Several Continental Properties employees, such as CEO James
Schloemer, Project Manager Thomas Schloemer and President Daniel
Minahan, donated the maximum $6,600 allowed. Asset management firm
Marshall Street Capital Chairman Thomas Hauske also gave $6,600.
Other notable donors include Michael Best & Friedrich partner Scott
Beightol, a former UW System Regent, who gave $3,300, and car dealer
Russ Darrow Jr., who ran for the U.S. Senate in 2004. He gave $500.
*DeSantis pulled in $109,977 from Wisconsin donors, with several
maxing out their contributions almost immediately. The lowest amount
given was $5. He pulled in more per day than anyone else. The
Steak-Out restaurant owner Robert Lombardo and manager Anida Fang each
donated $6,600 to DeSantis’ campaign. Boys and Girls Club Reading
Specialist Amy Rickmeier also gave $6,600. Several members of the
Schmidt family, which runs several prominent Milwaukee-area
restaurants and bars such as Water Street Brewery, each gave $6,600 as
well. While the reporting period ended before the July 11
fundraisers that DeSantis did in Wisconsin, a few of the hosts listed
on the invites had contributions listed on his most recent report.
That includes former GOP Assembly Speaker John Gard and former Revenue
Secretary Cate Zeuske. The husband and wife each gave $1,000. Former
Public Service Commission Chair Ave Bie, meanwhile, contributed
$2,000. Other DeSantis donors included Laura Stroebel, the wife of
state Sen. Duey Stroebel, R-Saukville. She donated $500.
*Trump reported 1,584 donations — including multiple donations from
the same donors — as he raised $94,938 from Wisconsin. One contributor
gave $821.50 over the first six months of the year, including a
donation of a single penny in one transaction. By comparison, DeSantis
listed just 93 donations from the state.
*U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., announced his bid May 22. He raised
$29,957 from Wisconsin through June 30. That includes $6,600 each from
Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C. President Thomas Nichols and
his spouse Therese Nichols.
*Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, announced Feb. 21 and raised $14,070
from Wisconsin by June 30.
*Former Vice President Mike Pence, who announced June 7, raised $8,228
over the final three weeks of the month.
*And former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who announced June 6,
raised $1,500 from Wisconsin. That includes a $1,000 contribution from
Bader Philanthropies CEO Daniel Bader.
For more, visit WisPolitics.com
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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