21st District Race Leads Senate Recall Spending

It will come as a surprise to no one to learn that there was a lot of big money spent in the Wisconsin recall elections.

Between the 15 races from both 2011 and 2012, a total of $137 million was spent and while there was big money involved in the recall of Gov. Scott Walker, when it comes to the senate races, the 21st Senate District involved the biggest dollars.

According to a story from the Associated Press in The Journal Times, the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign released a report detailing the money that went into the recalls, and the amounts are staggering.

Among the Senate races from both 2011 and 2012, the one that targeted Republican Van Wanggaard generated the most money at $2.9 million. Sen. John Lehman — after a recount and Wanggaard declined to challenge — and supporters raised $1.8 million, compared to Wanggaard and his supporters' $1.1 million.

But outside groups spent the lion's share at $2.3 million, compared to a combined total from the candidates at about $634,000. The biggest chunk of that came from the Greater Wisconsin Committee, a liberal group that supported Lehman, and Planned Parenthood.

Statewide, of course, the gubernatorial race churned up the most cash with about $81 million spent.

Some Walker's supporters came with big money, but his campaign also said that more than 75 percent of donations were $50 or less. His biggest contributor was the Republican Governors Association with $9.4 million.

In total, Walker and his supporters put out more than $58 million while Barrett and his supporters spent more than $22 million. Barrett's biggest contributor was the Greater Wisconsin Committee, which gave $6.7 million to his campaign.