Candidates’ fundraising brings in cash
Latest reports show GOP incumbents sitting on more than opponents
WASHINGTON – As Democrats aim to compete for at least two Wisconsin battleground House districts in just under seven months, the Republican incumbents in those seats are continuing to bring in the cash.
Rep. Derrick Van Orden, a freshman Republican in the state’s western 3rd Congressional District, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars more than his Democratic challengers, according to campaign finance reports filed Monday. And Rep. Bryan Steil, a Janesville Republican representing the southeastern 1st Congressional District, added to his war chest as he awaits a viable Democratic challenger.
The fight to replace retiring Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher in northeastern Wisconsin, meanwhile, is just getting started.
Here’s what to know about fundraising in Wisconsin’s House races in the first quarter of 2024:
Derrick Van Orden is a top target for Democrats
Wisconsin’s freshman congressman is a top target for Democrats this cycle.
Van Orden raised $705,319 in the first quarter of the year, Federal Elections Commission reports show, and he had more than $1.9 million in cash on hand heading into April.
Two Democrats are currently battling to face Van Orden in November: smallbusiness owner Rebecca Cooke and Stevens Point State Rep. Katrina Shankland.
Cooke, who placed second in last cycle’s Democratic primary for the seat, raised $491,634 and had $807,660 in cash on hand, while Shankland brought in $303,181 and ended the quarter with $357,175 in her war chest.
Bryan Steil awaits a challenger in Wisconsin’s 1st District
Steil, seeking his fourth term on Capitol Hill, has continued to bring in cash as he awaits a potential challenge from a Democrat who could draw the support of the national party.
The Janesville Republican raised $638,823 in the first quarter of 2024, FEC reports show. And he’s headed into the summer with a war chest of just over $4 million.
His current Democratic opponent, Racine County emergency response manager Lorenzo Santos, meanwhile, raised just $12,096 and had $5,199 in cash.
But former Democratic congressman Peter Barca, who represented the district from 1993 to 1995, is considering a campaign to challenge Steil. Barca told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he’s been encouraged to run by national Democrats — an indication he could get their financial backing if he decided to run.
Another Democrat, former Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan, is also thinking about a run.
The crowded race to replace Rep. Mike Gallagher
Gallagher’s announcement in February that he would not seek reelection set an unexpected Republican primary race.
Former state Sen. Roger Roth jumped into the race the same day. And state Sen. Andre Jacque announced his own candidacy in early March. Since then, Roth has held a fundraising edge.
Roth reported raising $381,908 since the start of his campaign and had $376,938 in cash on hand, FEC reports show. Jacque raised $127,044 and loaned himself another $16,000 and ended the quarter with $140,653 in his war chest.
Roth drew donations from GOP megadonors and owners of Uline Inc. Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein, former Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels and Franklin businessman Scott Mayer, who recently opted out of a Senate run this year.
Tony Wied, the former owner of a dinosaur-branded gas station chain, joined the primary last week with the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. His campaign did not say how much Wied raised in his first week but claimed he had $700,000 in cash on hand.
The lone Democrat in the race, De Pere OB-GYN Kristin Lyerly, launched her campaign earlier this month. A spokeswoman for Lyerly said the Democrat raised $250,000 from more than 6,000 donors in the first week of her campaign.