Ron Johnson raises more funds than all Wisconsin Democrats combined
Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry is going all in on his bid for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, loaning his campaign $6.5 million of his own money in the second quarter.
That brings him to massive $12.3 million in total self-loans.
But Ron Johnson, who Lasry hopes to take on in November, received about $7 million in donations, beating not just Lasry’s $520,000 in outside fundraising but the entire Democratic field combined. The senator now has around $2 million on hand.
The race’s full financial picture comes on the eve of a televised debate and three weeks before the Aug. 9 primary.
Though Lasry was able to greatly outspend the rest of the field, his two top rivals took in more in donations.
Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who had a slight lead over Lasry in the latest polling, brought in $2.1 million and has $1.5 million on hand. State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski received $900,000 and loaned campaign $600,000, ending the cycle with $460,000 on hand.
Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson brought in $230,000, leaving him with $240,000 in cash.
That means the top four Democrats together took in $3.7 million in total donations, far less than Johnson’s haul.
Candidates’ ability to self-finance campaigns has become an issue in the primary as Barnes has sought to highlight his lack of personal wealth.
All candidates spent big this cycle. Johnson spent $6.5 million, filling the airwaves with ads hammering national Democrats on inflation.
Lasry actually topped Johnson, spending $6.7 million. Other Democrats also spent more than they took in: Barnes spent $2.2 million, Godlewski $2.7 million, and Nelson $530,000.
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