Twelve Wisconsin legislators raised a record-breaking $6.8 million-plus during the first half of 2011, two thirds of which came from recall efforts, the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign reported Tuesday.
The money raised from campaign contributors and four legislative campaign committees broke fundraising records from 2001, the last comparable year.
The 2011 amount of money raised starkly contrasts with typical odd years, which traditionally see lower fundraising numbers because of the lack of campaigns.
Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, who won her summer recall election, raised the most: $958,418. Former Republican Sen. Dan Kapanke raised $725,913, but lost his recall election. State Rep. Sandy Pasch, D-Whitefish Bay, who challenged Darling, ranked third with $431,301.
Democrats and Republicans were equally represented among the top 18 fundraisers.
Gov. Scott Walker raised $2.51 million, money the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign suggested was for his potential recall campaign, which at the earliest could start in January of 2012. The amount is substantially more than former Gov. Jim Doyle raised during his 2006 reelection campaign.
""[The recall elections are] what drove the fundraising so crazy,"" said Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Executive Director Mike McCabe.
Other legislators, including Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, raised funds despite not being up for election.
""People in leadership positions are magnets for money, and all interest groups want to be on the good side of the senate leader,"" McCabe said.
—McKenna Kohlenberg
