1st CD incumbent Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Janesville) raised more than $638,000 through his congressional campaign account and will report $4 million cash on hand when he files his report next week. Rep. Steil did not mention his spending this quarter but started 2024 with more than $3.6 million cash on hand, putting his spending at around $235,000. The Steil Victory Fund also raised $150,000, and his leadership account pulled in more than $50,000.
Blog Page 3
4/12: New ads from Opportunity Wisconsin oppose Steil and Van Orden
Opportunity Wisconsin is running digital billboard ads targeting U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Janesville) and U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien). The ad knocking Rep. Steil says, “I support over $44 billion in tax giveaways for the richest 1%,” and Rep. Van Orden says the same but cites $34 billion from a different bill. The billboards will run in their districts.
3/29: DOR secretary Barca announces he is leaving Evers’ administration
Department of Revenue Secretary Peter Barca announced he will be leaving Governor Tony Evers’ administration after more than five years of service. “Peter has been with our administration since Day One, and I knew from the beginning that he would be a dedicated, enthusiastic, and effective leader for the Department of Revenue,” said Gov. Evers. “We’ve accomplished much together over the past five years on behalf of the people of Wisconsin, including ensuring Wisconsin taxpayers will see $1.5 billion in tax relief annually through income tax cuts I’ve signed into law. I thank Peter for service and wish him and his family all the best.”
Sec. Barca is reportedly considering a run for the 1st Congressional District, a seat he held thirty years ago. Sec. Barca won a 1993 special election to fill the vacancy created by Wisconsin Congressman Les Aspin’s appointment to be US Secretary of Defense under President Bill Clinton. Barca won the special election over Republican Mark Neumann by just 675 votes. Barca lost his re-election in 1994 in a re-match with Neumann by 1,120 votes. Prior to serving in Congress, Barca served in the state legislature for eight years. In 2008, Barca returned to the State Assembly and served in that body for another 10 years before being one of Governor Tony Evers first cabinet appointments. Racine County Emergency Management coordinator and Navy Reserve intelligence officer Lorenzo Santos and healthcare professional Diane Anderson have announced plans to run for the Democratic nomination for the seat.
3/29: Opportunity Wisconsin launches ad targeting Steil
Opportunity Wisconsin, a left-leaning issue advocacy organization, launched a new TV ad against U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Janesville). The ad accuses Rep. Steil of siding with drug companies instead of favoring an insulin price cap. The ad launched this week on Milwaukee broadcast TV and is included in a previously announced seven-figure media campaign.
5/10: Americans for Prosperity launches new ad
Americans for Prosperity launched a new ad targeting U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D). The ad focuses on inflation, saying “we’ve had enough of Bidenomics.” The ad is part of a national buy with “six figures” being spent in Wisconsin. There are 30-second and 15-second versions of the ad that will run on digital and streaming services.
5/10: Restoration PAC launches new ad
Restoration PAC launched a $3 million TV ad campaign, saying U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D) is “Madison’s senator, not Wisconsin’s.” An earlier version of the ad was replaced with this one after attorneys for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee requested its removal. The ad will run in every media market, but no other details were provided. Restoration PAC also released a website to build off of the ad’s content.
5/10: Baldwin announces fourth TV ad
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D) announced the fourth TV ad of her reelection campaign. The ad highlights Sen. Baldwin’s work to combat fentanyl. The new ad will run statewide and is included in a previous buy. In the ad, a woman says Sen. Baldwin “doesn’t just talk the talk but she actually walks the walk.”
5/10: Quinnipiac releases new senate poll
Quinnipiac University released new Wisconsin polls, finding U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D) ahead of GOP U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde. The survey found 54% of Wisconsinites backed Sen. Baldwin, and 42% favored Eric Hovde. The poll also showed that 49% have a favorable opinion of Sen. Baldwin and 35% have an unfavorable opinion. For Hovde, 23% have a favorable opinion, 25% have an unfavorable opinion, and 50% have not heard enough to have an opinion. The survey consisted of 1,457 registered voters and was conducted May 2-6 using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones. The margin of error was +/- 2.6 percentage points. FiveThirtyEight rates YouGov 2.8 stars out of 3.
5/3: NRSC launches new ad
The National Republican Senatorial Committee released a new ad connecting the campus protests with forgiving student loan debt. The 5 figure buy targets U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D) and will be running statewide. The ad says Sen. Baldwin and President Joe Biden want to use “your tax dollars to fund this mayhem.”
5/3: Hovde releases new TV ad
GOP U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde debuted a new TV ad “Little Nugget” statewide on broadcast, cable and digital. The ad is included in a $5.5 million campaign buy. In the ad, Hovde says career politicians have “spent money recklessly” and driven up the national debt.
