Wednesday morning, Wisconsinites woke up to the results of their primary elections while also learning that inflation remains above wage growth. As families face the realities of an ever-more expensive economy, the need to elect leaders who will tackle this economic crisis grows by the day.
Tom Tiffany and Derrick Van Orden were selected as the Republican nominees for Governor and Congress— both sitting Members of Congress who have only rubber-stamped Trump’s increasingly expensive agenda.
Van Orden and Tiffany both voted for a $4 trillion giveaway to billionaires and corporations, paid for by slashing healthcare, food assistance to families, and cheaper Wisconsin-made energy projects. Now Van Orden and Tiffany are cheerleading an unnecessary war in Iran that isn’t making us safer but is sending costs at home skyrocketing.
These nominees are supporting an energy agenda that benefits the oil, gas, and utility donors funding their campaigns. In fact, 27 oil and gas companies have reported a total of $85.2 billion in Q2 profits. That is 39 million per hour while families pay the price at the pump. Since the war in Iran began, Americans have paid $83.1 billion more for gas and diesel. That comes out to $634.67 per household.
>> WisPolitics is now on the State Affairs network. Get custom keyword notifications, bill tracking and all WisPolitics content. Get the app or access via desktop.
Inflation and living costs were identified as the nation’s top concern in a recent Marquette poll, marking the fourth straight time the survey has found this result. The same poll found 75% of Americans believe that the war has not been worth the cost.
Cozying up to Trump and letting oil, gas, and utility interests bankroll your campaign may help you win a GOP primary, but it will be their downfall with voters in the general election.
The Wisconsin Context
- A recent report by Climate Power and the Center for American Progress Action Fund highlights how Trump’s policies have raised costs for Wisconsin families. The report found that Trump, with support from the GOP Congress, has cost Wisconsin families at least $2,035 and up to $3,548 for those insured through the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
- Since Trump took office, Wisconsin’s residential electricity prices have increased by 14%. Residential gas prices rose about 10% between May 2024 and May 2026.
- Wisconsin set a new record for diesel prices this past spring, reaching $5.87 a gallon during planting season. The price of fertilizer also skyrocketed 45%, adding to ever-mounting agriculture expenses.
Key Points on Donations
- Tom Tiffany:
- Tiffany has received over $114,000 from the oil and gas industry in his gubernatorial campaign so far, in addition to more than $75,000 from the oil and gas industry throughout his time in Congress and the state legislature.
- Tiffany has received over $70,000 from the utilities industry across his political career.
- Derrick Van Orden:
- Van Orden has received almost $95,000 from the oil and gas industry in this campaign cycle alone and, prior to this election, has received over $137,000 from the industry across his time in Congress.
- Van Orden has received almost $18,000 from utilities and, prior to this election, has received nearly $16,000 from the industry across his time in Congress.
Questions for Wisconsin GOP Primary “Winners”
- What are you willing to do to end the Iran war and help Wisconsinites and farmers recover from the energy crisis that could last long after any resolution?
- How will you stand up to Trump on reckless tariff policies that make everything from gas to groceries to energy more expensive?
- Will you keep accepting donations from oil, gas, and utility companies while they make record profits and families pay higher prices?
- Why do you support taking away clean, made-in-America energy investment and jobs while Wisconsinites are struggling with higher prices at the pump and rising utility bills?
