Contact: Brad Bainum, bradb@wisdems.org
Uihlein-funded super PACs have already dumped $10.7 million into buying the Republican Party’s nomination for Kevin Nicholson.
MADISON — Can a single billionaire buy a U.S. Senate election? Dick Uihlein is banking on it.
In the final six-week run-up to tomorrow’s Wisconsin’s GOP Senate primary, groups solely funded by billionaire Dick Uihlein spent more than $2.9 million on TV ads attacking Republican Leah Vukmir and boosting Uihlein’s candidate of choice, Kevin Nicholson.
All told, Uihlein-funded super PACs have now spent at least $10.7 million to elect Nicholson, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Uihlein’s spending to secure the Republican Senate nomination for Kevin Nicholson is a direct challenge to the Republican Party of Wisconsin. The state Republican Party endorsed Vukmir, and it has made significant organizing, TV, and radio investments on her behalf, making tomorrow’s primary election a significant “test” of the state party’s influence.
“If billionaire Dick Uihlein’s spending beats the state Republican Party intomorrow’s GOP Senate primary, and buys an election for Kevin Nicholson, then there will be no doubt that Wisconsin’s Republican U.S. Senate nomination is for sale to the richest billionaire,” said Brad Bainum, Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson for the 2018 Senate race. “Dick Uihlein is spending millions to buy a U.S. Senator who will work for him.”
