MADISON, WI – Another piece of bad news for Senate Republicans in their doomed effort to hold a majority — after pushing sitting Senator Jesse James to run in a new district his recent 2025 fundraising report shows him failing to make up significant ground. Sen. James reported less than $43,000 raised in the second half of 2025 with less than $62,000 cash-on-hand. In comparison, Democratic State Senator Jeff Smith raised over $86,000 in the second half of 2025 and has over $140,000 cash-on-hand towards his reelection campaign.
SSDC Communications Director Will Karcz on Sen. Smith’s strong fundraising report:
“Senator James’ colleagues have done him an incredible disservice by convincing him to abandon a safe seat and run against Jeff Smith. These fundraising numbers make 3 things very clear: Sen. James does not have the juice to flip this seat, Senator Smith has a strong base of support and far better funded campaign, and Republicans across Wisconsin are failing to convince donors that they have a snowball’s chance in hell at holding a majority.”
Sen. James fundraising by the numbers:
- Cash-on-hand: $61,234.16
- Raised in second half of 2025: $42,817.96
- Total amount raised in 2025: $45,912.96
Sen. Smith fundraising by the numbers:
- Cash-on-hand: $143,287.52
- Raised in second half of 2025: $86,123.81
- Total amount raised in 2025: $153,493.81
