TESTIN vs. PIOTROWSKI: Record campaign spending for state Senate district that includes Stevens Point, Tomah

The two candidates for the 24th Senate District, which includes Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids, Tomah and Sparta, raised and spent nearly $2 million in a race that was ultimately won by incumbent state Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point).

That’s one of the most expensive races in the history of the Wisconsin State Legislature, according to an analysis of campaign finance records by the Point/Plover Metro Wire and The Badger Project.

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Peter Cameron is the editor-in-chief of The Badger Project,
a nonpartisan, nonprofit news publication out of Madison

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In a sign of the times, the previous spending record for the legislature was actually broken four times in the 2020 campaign cycle.

In the tally that matters most, Testin held the seat easily with more than 56% of more than 95,000 votes cast.

But his challenger, retired police officer Paul Piotrowski, won the money game. The Democrat raised and spent more than $1.1 million, most of which came from his political party. Testin raised and spent more than $700,000.

The Republican state senator said his campaign was able to overcome the big difference in spending.

“While money is important and it certainly plays a factor, at the end of the day it’s who is willing to go out there and work the hardest and wear out the shoe leather to get their message out,” he said.

Ed Miller, a political science professor at UW-Stevens Point who taught both candidates, said Democrats spent heavily because they thought they could flip a seat they had held as recently as 2012.

“Most importantly,” Miller said, the state GOP drew the 24th State Senate District in 2011 to include rural areas to the west and south of Stevens Point, making it a safer seat for Republicans.

Piotrowski, who said he would not run again, lamented that rural areas had shifted to the right, making his path to victory more difficult.

Campaign finance laws weakened; floodgates open

Elections for the 24th District — and the rest of the state — used to see much smaller amounts of campaign cash raised. Between 2000 and 2012, the general election for the seat never saw the two candidates raise and spend more than $150,000.

But in 2016, Testin and the incumbent Democrat raised nearly $850,000. In 2020, the total haul for the seat was more than double that.

The explosion in cash from political parties in recent years can be directly attributed to the weakening of Wisconsin campaign finance laws in the last decade, said Matt Rothschild, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a Madison-based organization that tracks campaign spending in the state.

In 2015, after court cases effectively removed donation limits to and from political parties, the Republican-controlled state legislature further diluted restrictions.

Those events have left a gaping hole in Wisconsin campaign finance law. While individuals are limited in what they can donate directly to a candidate, super rich donors can now give unlimited amounts to political parties, which can turn around and give unlimited sums to candidates.

Wealthy donors are increasingly taking advantage of this. In 2020, out-of-state billionaire liberals like Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune, and Karla Jurvetson, a California physician, donated $2.5 million and $2.8 million, respectively, to the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Billionaires Diane Hendricks of ABC Building Supply, who lives in the Beloit area, and Elizabeth Uihlein of Uline Shipping Supplies, who splits time between Chicago and Wisconsin, last year gave $2.4 million and $1 million to state Republicans, respectively.

That mass of cash to political parties, and the lack of limits on those parties, is how Piotrowski was able to receive more than $800,000 from the Democratic Party, and Testin was able to receive nearly $250,000 from the state GOP. By contrast, an individual can only give a state Senate candidate in Wisconsin a maximum of $2,000 per election.

“It’s just astonishing that the price tag for running for office just continues to shatter the ceiling into the stratosphere,” Rothschild said.

Democrats have introduced a bill in the Republican-controlled legislature that would apply limits on donations to and from political parties in Wisconsin, but Republicans ignored it.

Testin said he was open to campaign finance reforms, but was noncommittal about closing the specific loophole to and from political parties.

“We’d have to take a look,” he said.

Who donated

Not including contributions from the GOP, Testin raised about $500,000.

He received a lot of financial support from big business. The political action committees for Alliant Energy, Charter Communications, General Motors, Walmart, Festival Foods and Humana all gave him the maximum $2,000. Corporations, tribes and unions are forbidden from donating directly to candidates, but they can have their own PACs, which can raise money, often from employees or members. These organizations can donate directly to candidates.

The powerful Tavern League of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Beer Distributors Association also both gave Testin the maximum $2,000, as did state trade associations for realtors, builders, dentists and anesthesiologists.

Piotrowski raised about $300,000, not including the $800,000 he got from the Democratic Party.

He donated more than $10,000 to his own campaign.

Organized labor was also a big supporter. Piotrowski received the maximum $2,000 from union political action committees representing electrical workers, teamsters, sheet metal workers, teachers, carpenters and train engineers.

Independent spending on attack ads

The record campaign spending in the race for the 24th District in the Wisconsin State Senate does not even include independent spending, which falls in a separate category.

These shadowy organizations, some of which are called Super PACs, are generally prohibited from coordinating with political campaigns, but they can raise and spend unlimited amounts attacking or promoting a candidate or an issue on the airwaves, online or in print. The 2010 Citizens United decision of the Supreme Court allowed for the creation of some groups and unleashed others. Also, some independent spending groups are not required to disclose their donors.

Americans for Prosperity, the conservative political advocacy group of the Koch Brothers network, spent more than $90,000 on things like mailing brochures and online advertising in support of Testin.

The independent spending groups including For Our Future, formed by former presidential candidate Tom Steyer, the Monona-based A Better Wisconsin Together, which is associated with the liberal One Wisconsin Now, and Citizen Action of Wisconsin, a coalition of labor, environment, senior citizen and other groups, spent more than $80,000 on things like online and mail advertising in support of Piotrowski.

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The Badger Project is a nonpartisan, citizen-supported journalism nonprofit in Wisconsin.

TOP DONORS TO TESTIN

DONOR	TYPE	CITY	STATE	TOTAL
CMTE TO ELECT A REPUBLICAN SENATE OF WISCONSIN	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$122,834
WISCONSIN REPUBLICAN PARTY	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$116,543
DUDAS, MICHAEL	INDIVIDUAL	STEVENS POINT	WI	$6,000
WISCONSIN CREDIT UNION LEAGUE	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$3,000
WISCONSIN BANKERS ASSOCIATION	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$3,000
LUDINGTON, DAVD P	INDIVIDUAL	ONALASKA	WI	$3,000
WYSOCKI, LOUIS	INDIVIDUAL	CUSTER	WI	$2,550
WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF NURSE ANESTHETISTS	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$2,500
US VENTURE	NON-INDIVIDUAL	APPLETON	WI	$2,500
HOFFMAN, JAMES	INDIVIDUAL	BLACK RIVER FALLS	WI	$2,750
ZAGELOW, MIKE	INDIVIDUAL	MILTON	WI	$2,200
ALLIANT ENERGY	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$2,000
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS	NON-INDIVIDUAL	STAMFORD	CT	$2,000
GENERAL MOTORS	NON-INDIVIDUAL	WASHINGTON	DC	$2,000
WALMART	NON-INDIVIDUAL	BENTONVILLE	AR	$2,000
WISCONSIN REALTORS ASSOCIATION	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$2,000
WISCONSIN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$2,000
WISCONSIN BUILDERS ASSOCIATION	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$2,000
WISCONSIN DENTAL ASSOCIATION	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$2,000
WISCONSIN ENERGY CORP	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MILWAUKEE	WI	$2,000
WISCONSIN INSURANCE ALLIANCE	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$2,000
WISCONSIN BEER DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$2,000
TAVERN LEAGUE OF WISCONSIN	NON-INDIVIDUAL	FITCHBURG	WI	$2,000
WISCONSIN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MILWAUKEE	WI	$2,000
ASSOCIATED BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS OF WISCONSIN	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$2,000
DANTCHIK, ARTHUR	INDIVIDUAL	GLADWYNE	PA	$2,000
DEVIN LEMAHIEU CAMPAIGN CMTE	NON-INDIVIDUAL	OOSTBURG	WI	$2,000
CITIZENS FOR TIFFANY	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MERRILL	WI	$2,000
HENDRICKS, KIMBERLEE K (KIM)	INDIVIDUAL	JANESVILLE	WI	$2,000
DAVIS, DWIGHT E	INDIVIDUAL	MOSINEE	WI	$2,000
SPOERL, ROBERT	INDIVIDUAL	WAUPACA	WI	$2,000
LINDEMANN, JEFF	INDIVIDUAL	APPLETON	WI	$2,000
CMTE TO ELECT JOAN BALLWEG	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MARKESAN	WI	$2,000
HALL, ANTHONY	INDIVIDUAL	STEVENS POINT	WI	$2,000
PAVELSKI, JEREMIE M	INDIVIDUAL	WISCONSIN RAPIDS	WI	$2,000
ROGER J ROTH JR CAMPAIGN CMTE	NON-INDIVIDUAL	APPLETON	WI	$2,000
FESTIVAL FOODS	NON-INDIVIDUAL	DE PERE	WI	$2,000
REBECCA PAC	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MIDDLETON	WI	$2,000
TURNEY, SUSAN	INDIVIDUAL	MONONA	WI	$2,000
WYSOCKI, GARY	INDIVIDUAL	BANCROFT	WI	$2,000
AGGREGATE PRODUCERS OF WISCONSIN	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$2,000
ALLIANCE OF HEALTH INSURERS	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$2,000
PAVELSKI, ALICIA	INDIVIDUAL	WISCONSIN RAPIDS	WI	$2,000
ROBERTS, PAUL	INDIVIDUAL	STEVENS POINT	WI	$2,000
DAN FEYEN CAMPAIGN CMTE	NON-INDIVIDUAL	FOND DU LAC	WI	$2,000
MARY CZAJA FELZKOWSKI CAMPAIGN CMTE	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MECHANICSBURG	PA	$2,000
WISCONSIN PHYSICAL THERAPY	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$2,000
HUMANA INC P A C	NON-INDIVIDUAL	WASHINGTON	DC	$2,000
BELL AMBULANCE INC EMPLOYEES	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MILWAUKEE	WI	$2,000
MURILLO, SHARON	INDIVIDUAL	ELM GROVE	WI	$2,000
HUTTER, BRADLEY	INDIVIDUAL	MIDDLETON	WI	$2,000
HERZOG, SHAWN	INDIVIDUAL	PLOVER	WI	$2,000
WISCONSIN FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN	NON-INDIVIDUAL	WASHINGTON	DC	$2,000
LIEGEL, SIMON	INDIVIDUAL	SPRING GREEN	WI	$2,000
SCHMALZ, STEVE	INDIVIDUAL	INDIANAPOLIS	IN	$2,000
OBRIEN, TIM	INDIVIDUAL	FITCHBURG	WI	$2,000
OBRIEN, BECKI	INDIVIDUAL	FITCHBURG	WI	$2,000
SCHMALZ, JULIE	INDIVIDUAL	INDIANAPOLIS	IN	$2,000

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TOP DONORS TO PIOTROWSKI

DONOR	TYPE	CITY	STATE	TOTAL
STATE SENATE DEMOCRATIC CMTE OF WISCONSIN	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$518,530
WISCONSIN DEMOCRATIC PARTY	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$336,620
PIOTROWSKI, PAUL	INDIVIDUAL	STEVENS POINT	WI	$10,333
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS / IBEW	NON-INDIVIDUAL	WASHINGTON	DC	$2,000
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS / IBT	NON-INDIVIDUAL	WASHINGTON	DC	$2,000
SHEET METAL WORKERS INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION / SMWIA	NON-INDIVIDUAL	NORTH OLMSTED	OH	$2,000
WISCONSIN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$2,000
WISCONSIN LABORERS DISTRICT COUNCIL	NON-INDIVIDUAL	DE FOREST	WI	$2,000
WISCONSIN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION COUNCIL REGION 6	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$2,000
WISCONSIN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION COUNCIL REGION 6	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MOSINEE	WI	$2,000
UAW REGION 4	NON-INDIVIDUAL	SHEBOYGAN	WI	$2,000
WISCONSIN STATE COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$2,000
BROTHERHOOD OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS & TRAINMEN / BLET	NON-INDIVIDUAL	INDEPENDENCE	OH	$2,000
UIHLEIN, LYNDE B	INDIVIDUAL	MILWAUKEE	WI	$2,000
BURNS, TIMOTHY W	INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$2,000
SCHILLING, PAUL	INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$2,000
COULEE REGION UNITED EDUCATORS	NON-INDIVIDUAL	LACROSSE	WI	$2,000
JON ERPENBACH SENATE CMTE	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MIDDLETON	WI	$2,000
ELECTRICAL WORKERS LOCAL 494	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MILWAUKEE	WI	$2,000
SCHROECKENTHALER, FRED	INDIVIDUAL	PLOVER	WI	$2,000
PLUMBERS & GASFITTERS LOCAL 75	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MILWAUKEE	WI	$2,000
MCCABE, RONALD	INDIVIDUAL	WISCONSIN RAPIDS	WI	$2,000
MUNSEY, JUDY	INDIVIDUAL	STEVENS POINT	WI	$2,000
SHILLING FOR SENATE	NON-INDIVIDUAL	LA CROSSE	WI	$2,000
NOEL, JOHN M	INDIVIDUAL	PLOVER	WI	$2,000
KAVULICH, SUSAN	INDIVIDUAL	MIDDLETON	WI	$2,000
NOEL, PATRICIA D (PATTY)	INDIVIDUAL	PLOVER	WI	$2,000
KATRINA SHANKLAND CAMPAIGN CMTE	NON-INDIVIDUAL	STEVENS POINT	WI	$2,000
JANET BEWLEY CAMPAIGN CMTE	NON-INDIVIDUAL	ASHLAND	WI	$2,000
AFSCME WISCONSIN COUNCIL 32	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$2,000
FLIPPABLE	NON-INDIVIDUAL	BROOKLYN	NY	$2,000
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC REDISTRICTING CMTE	NON-INDIVIDUAL	WASHINGTON	DC	$2,000
KERN, DEBORAH	INDIVIDUAL	FOX POINT	WI	$2,000
WOLESKE, JOSEPH	INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$2,000
MILLER, JOHN W W	INDIVIDUAL	FOX POINT	WI	$2,000
MIGAS, ROSALIE A	INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$1,850
VILS, MARY	INDIVIDUAL	STEVENS POINT	WI	$1,800
WOOD COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MARSHFIELD	WI	$1,500
FRIENDS OF KELDA ROYS	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$1,500
KIRSCH, MATTHEW	INDIVIDUAL	STEVENS POINT	WI	$1,450
CHRISTENSEN, RENEE	INDIVIDUAL	WASHINGTON	DC	$1,300
MCKEE, CHARLES	INDIVIDUAL	STEVENS POINT	WI	$1,250
RAY, CAL	INDIVIDUAL	STEVENS POINT	WI	$1,250
GROOS, FRED	INDIVIDUAL	STEVENS POINT	WI	$1,250
HERMAN, DANIEL	INDIVIDUAL	WISCONSIN RAPIDS	WI	$1,200
LEVITAN, STU	INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$1,100
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF WISCONSIN	NON-INDIVIDUAL	MADISON	WI	$1,000
ROSWELL, MARJORIE	INDIVIDUAL	BALTIMORE	MD	$1,000
HESS, LAWRENCE E	INDIVIDUAL	SAN DIEGO	CA	$1,000
LEPINSKI, BETH	INDIVIDUAL	APPLETON	WI	$1,000