Regents Gave 100 Times More to GOP

American Cash by Psychonaught. Photo of money

As another school year gets underway on University of Wisconsin campuses, students may be surprised to learn that the UW System is governed by a Board of Regents who overwhelmingly support Republican legislative and statewide candidates despite the liberal reputation of its flagship Madison campus.

Regents are appointed to six-year staggered terms by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. GOP Gov. Scott Walker, who was first elected in 2010, has appointed all but one of the 18 regents – State School Superintendent Tony Evers is the exception. (Evers, who won his third, four-year term last spring, recently announced he will run for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2018.)

All told, the regents and their spouses contributed about $214,000 to legislative and statewide candidates between January 2010 and December 2016. All but $2,050 of their total contributions went to Republican candidates – that’s 100 times more to the GOP. Walker’s campaign received about $111,700 from his appointees and their spouses.

Topping the list (see table below) of contributors was Regent Tracey Klein, a lawyer with Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren in Milwaukee, and her husband, Richard, who contributed about $44,200 to all legislative and statewide candidates, including about $41,100 to Walker.

Table Campaign Contributions by UW Regents to GOP Gov. Scott Walker, Legislative and Statewide Candidates January 2010 – December 2016