MADISON, Wis. — After Maria Lazar raised less than $200,000 during the pre-primary fundraising period, the WisDems and Judge Chris Taylor’s campaign announced raising a combined $3.3 million.
This builds on the strength already shown in the last filing report, where the WisDems and Judge Taylor’s campaign saw donations from tens of thousands of grassroots supporters, whereas the WisGOP and Lazar campaign saw less than 25 donors total in their previous report. It’s clear that the Republican base is not supporting their party or candidate and that Lazar will have to rely on right-wing mega donors to bail them out. While the Uihleins may have shelled out $20,000, there were no other donations from GOP mega donors.
Upon announcing the combined $3 million haul, WisDems Chair Devin Remiker released the following statement:
“GOP donors know that giving money to their state party and Maria Lazar is no better than lighting it on fire. Even with Elon Musk spending nearly $60 million last cycle, Wisconsin Republicans learned that money can’t erase their candidates’ record of extremism, and that to win tough races you need the sort of infrastructure the WisDems are putting behind Judge Chris Taylor. It’s clear that unless you’re a GOP mega donor—someone for whom doling out a million dollars on a lost cause is the equivalent of throwing $5 into pull tabs—people are not supporting Wisconsin Republicans or their extremist candidate Maria Lazar.
“The beyond underwhelming fundraising by the WisGOP and Maria Lazar shows that their grassroots donors and base are depressed by the GOP’s lackluster candidate and the party’s repeated losses. We know right-wing mega donors could invest and throw tens of millions into this race if they think they even have a slight chance of winning, but the ability for them to make a difference has nearly evaporated. They know Maria Lazar will be a rubber stamp for their extreme political agenda that hurts Wisconsinites, and they’ll spend whatever it takes to put her on the Court. That’s why we’re running like we’re two points down and are ready to put even more resources behind Judge Taylor’s candidacy.”
Background:
- During this 72-hour reporting period in the 2025 SCOWIS race, conservative candidate Brad Schimel raised over twice what Lazar did during this pre-primary period.
- WisDems State Fundraising (1/1/26 – 2/2/26): $1,782,872
- WisDems Fed Fundraising (1/1/26-1/30): $388,689
- This is filed with the FEC later in February.
- 72-hour reporting period fundraising: $319,550
- Chris Taylor for Wisconsin Supreme Court: $820,000
- TOTAL: $3,311,111
