The Republican Governors Association today pledged to spend $6.2 million on Wisconsin’s race this fall.
The group said the buy will begin Sept. 7 and run through the Nov. 8 election across five media markets: Green Bay, La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee and Wausau.
The pledge comes with a crowded Republican field vying for the nomination to take on Dem Gov. Tony Evers, who had $10.5 million in his warchest to end 2021.
By comparison, former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch had $2.6 million cash on hand, while GOP rivals Kevin Nicholson and Tim Ramthun launched their bids after the close of the last reporting period.
Dems took a similar approach to the 2018 race, when they had a crowded field vying to take on then-Gov. Scott Walker. The group put its effort behind Evers after he secured the party’s nomination.
The RGA last month launched its first ad of the 2022 cycle, described as a five-figure digital buy on social media in the Milwaukee market hitting Evers on crime.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce has launched ads of its own in the race. One is through its issue advocacy arm, knocking Evers on Milwaukee TV over taking credit for the tax cut he signed in the 2021-23 budget. It also did a nearly $25,000 digital buy through its express advocacy operation touting its endorsement of Kleefisch in the race.
Meanwhile, a Dem group has been running TV ads in the Milwaukee market praising Evers for signing the tax cuts.
