The Eric Holder-led Dem redistricting group is set to pour nearly $100,000 into nine Wisconsin legislative races and the state Dem Party ahead of this fall’s election.
The National Democratic Redistricting Committee announced plans to invest $1 million in “direct, individual contributions” to state legislative candidates in Wisconsin and seven other states.
“This November will be the most important election of our lives, not just at the presidential level, but also with regard to state legislative races that will shape the next decade of America’s politics,” Holder said in a statement.
In total, the NDRC is putting $45,000 toward “efforts to support” Assembly candidates, $34,000 to “efforts to support” Senate candidates and $17,000 in contributions to the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Wisconsin is the only state where the group will put money toward legislative races in both chambers as well as the state Dem Party.
The group also rolled out endorsements of nine Dem candidates. That includes Reps. Beth Meyers, of Bayfield; Mark Spreitzer, of Beloit; and Steve Doyle, of Onalaska; along with Sen. Patty Schachtner, of Somerset.
The Assembly challengers the group is backing include: Deb Andraca, who’s taking on Rep. Jim Ott, R-Mequon; Kriss Marion, who’s running against Rep. Todd Novak, of Dodgeville; and Sara Rodriguez, who’s challenging Rep. Rob Hutton, of Brookfield.
And the Senate candidates it’s backing are Neal Plotkin and Paul Piotrowski, who are set to face off against Republican Sens. Alberta Darling, of River Falls, and Patrick Testin, of Stevens Point.
NDRC spokesman Brian Gabriel told WisPolitics.com that “candidates and entities received the maximum allowable contribution under Wisconsin state law.”
Under state law, Assembly candidates can receive $1,000 per campaign from PACs. The limit for PAC contributions is $2,000 per campaign for state Senate and $12,000 per calendar year for political party committees.
Gabriel did not respond to a request for a breakdown of the donations per candidate and caucus, including whether any of the money earmarked for each chamber would go to outside groups as well. NDRC said in a release the “investment includes contributions to caucuses and other support for key races on the ballot.”
See the release here.
See Ethics Commission information on contribution limits here.
