Wednesday, January 12, 2011
2:44 PM
Analysis: Johnson funded more than half of his campaign
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson spent more than $14.8 million in his victorious Senate campaign. But more than half of his overall fundraising came from the millionaire Oshkosh businessman's own pockets.
Johnson, sworn in as the state's junior senator last week, took care of more than $8.7 million out of the total raised over the election cycle, according to federal campaign finance data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.
Individual contributions accounted for 37 percent of Johnson's fundraising, with 71 percent of that total coming from donations classified as "large individual contributions."
Individuals affiliated with Milwaukee-based Fiduciary Management Inc. contributed the most to Johnson's campaign, according to CRP database OpenSecrets.org, with $18,400 in total contributions. Other companies with top individual contributions to Johnson included: Sargento Foods with a total of $13,300; Pacur -- the Oshkosh plastics company owned by Johnson -- with $12,900; Bemis Co. -- the Neenah company with ties to Johnson's in-laws -- with $11,850; Milwaukee's Rite-Hite Holding Corp. ($11,800); and Northwestern Mutual ($10,850).
Blue Cross/Blue Shield was the top PAC donor to Johnson, with $15,000. Nine other PACs donated $10,000 to Johnson, including Alamo PAC, the American Bankers Association, the Bluegrass Committee, Defend America PAC, Koch Industries, the Next Century Fund, Utah U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch's OrrinPAC, Arizona U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl's Senate Majority Fund and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan's Prosperity PAC. PAC contributions comprised 5 percent of Johnson's overall fundraising haul.
Retired donors topped the list of groups contributing to Johnson, with a total of $277,329, according to OpenSecrets. Leadership PACs contributed $137,500, with $95,350 attributed to Republican and conservative interests.
New U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble raised more than $1.2 million in defeating incumbent Dem Steve Kagen in the 8th CD race, while fellow freshman U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy raised nearly $2 million in beating Dem state Sen. Julie Lassa in the 7th CD to take over for longtime Dem U.S. Rep. Dave Obey.
See more in Friday's WisPolitics REPORT.
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