Fifteen of 20 Wisconsin State Senate committee chairs raised less money than the average member this cycle

By

Kalyn Stralow

Elections for 17 of 32 seats in the Wisconsin State Senate took place on Nov. 8, 2022. Republicans held a 20-12 majority heading into the election.

Committee chair fundraising

State legislative committee chairs set a committee’s legislative agenda. Some committee chairs raise significantly more money than their non-chair counterparts in the state legislature. The average amount raised by delegates who did not serve as a committee chair was $153,990. The funds raised by each of the State Senate’s 20 committee chairs are shown below.

  • Administrative Rules Committee – Stephen Nass – $39,810
  • Agriculture and Tourism Committee – Joan Ballweg – $33,736
  • Economic and Workforce Development Committee – Dan Feyen – $77,200
  • Elections, Election Process Reform and Ethics Committee – Kathy Bernier – $6,866
  • Employment Relations Committee – Chris Kapenga – $107,460
  • Financial Institutions and Revenue Committee – Dale Kooyenga – $191,882
  • Government Operations, Legal Review and Consumer Protection Committee – Duey Stroebel – $93,430
  • Housing, Commerce and Trade Committee – Dan Feyen – $77,200
  • Human Services, Children and Families Committee – Andre Jacque – $122,458
  • Information Policy and Technology Committee – Julian Bradley – $41,591
  • Insurance, Licensing and Forestry Committee – Mary Felzkowski – $148,877
  • Joint Finance Committee – Howard Marklein – $534,256
  • Joint Legislative Audit Committee – Robert Cowles – $17,662
  • Joint Legislative Council Committee – Chris Kapenga – $107,460
  • Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties – Van Wanggaard – $107,606
  • Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems – Dan Feyen – $77,200
  • Judiciary and Public Safety Committee – Van Wanggaard – $107,606
  • Labor and Regulatory Reform Committee – Stephen Nass – $39,810
  • Legislative Organization Committee – Chris Kapenga – $107,460
  • Natural Resources and Energy Committee – Robert Cowles – $17,662
  • Review of Administrative Rules Committee – Stephen Nass – $39,810
  • Senate Finance Committee – Howard Marklein – $534,256
  • Senate Health Committee – Patrick Testin – $428,547
  • Senate Organization Committee – Devin LeMahieu – $447,005
  • Sporting Heritage, Small Business and Rural Issues Committee – Rob Stafsholt – $40,658
  • Substance Abuse and Prevention Committee – Jesse James – $112,267
  • Tax Exemptions Committee – Patrick Testin – $428,547
  • Transportation and Local Government Committee – Jerry Petrowski – $1,600
  • Universities and Technical Colleges Committee – Roger Roth – $821,857
  • Utilities, Technology, and Telecommunications Committee – Julian Bradley – $41,591
  • Veterans and Military Affairs and Constitution and Federalism Committee – Eric Wimberger – $51,271

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that active Wisconsin PACs submitted to the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Political expenditures that are not controlled by candidates or their campaigns, known as satellite spending, are not included in candidate totals. Federal PACs are not required to report to state agencies. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines.

This article is a joint publication from Ballotpedia and Transparency USA, who are working together to provide campaign finance information for state-level elections. Learn more about our work here.