Quick Take: Tom Tiffany has raised more than $26 million for his Wisconsin governor campaign, with over $24 million routed through the Republican Party of Wisconsin between Aug. 13 and Sept. 19. Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein each gave $11 million, and Diane Hendricks also contributed substantially, together accounting for roughly 92% of Tiffany’s post‑June fundraising. Despite Tiffany’s cash advantage, a Marquette Law poll shows Democrat David Crowley holding a narrow lead among likely voters, and 5% remain undecided.
Three Billionaires Pump $24M Into Tom Tiffany’s $26M Wisconsin Governor Bid — Polls Still Tight
The Three Billionaires Trying to Buy Wisconsin’s Governor’s Race
Republican U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany has raised more than $26 million as he campaigns to become Wisconsin’s next governor, and a very large share of that money appears to have been funneled through the state Republican Party by just three billionaire donors.
Between Aug. 13 and Sept. 19, the Republican Party of Wisconsin transferred more than $24 million into Tiffany’s accounts, according to state campaign filings. Much of that sum likely traces back to Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein, the billionaire couple behind the Uline packaging and shipping company, who each donated $11 million to the State Republican Party during that month, campaign finance reports obtained by The New York Times show.
A third major donor in the same period was Diane Hendricks, co‑founder of ABC Supply Co., Inc., long regarded as one of Wisconsin’s largest conservative contributors, who also made a sizable contribution to the state party that helped fund Tiffany’s surge.
Those transfers account for roughly 92 percent of the money Tiffany raised since the end of June and have given him a substantial cash advantage in the closing weeks of the race. By comparison, Tiffany’s Democratic opponent, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, raised about $10 million in the same timeframe.
Observers note this is the first time since Wisconsin revised its campaign finance rules that a candidate’s campaign war chest has been dominated so heavily by only a handful of donors. The concentration of funding has amplified Tiffany’s ability to buy ads and organize late in the cycle, but it has also drawn scrutiny and political attention to the role wealthy donors play in state contests.
Still, it is not yet clear whether the billionaire-backed transfers will translate into votes. A Marquette Law poll published Wednesday put Crowley narrowly ahead among all Wisconsin voters, 46 percent to Tiffany’s 45 percent. Among likely voters, Crowley led 49 percent to Tiffany’s 46 percent, while 5 percent said they remained undecided.
Bottom line: Tiffany has a decisive fundraising edge thanks to large transfers routed through the state party, but current polling suggests the race remains competitive and could hinge on turnout and undecided voters in the final days.
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