Democratic Party of Wisconsin
Press Release

Illinois Billionaire Dick Uihlein, Kevin Nicholson’s Biggest Backer, Named GOP’s Top 2018 Spender

The Illinois-based megadonor has already poured $17.4 million into 10 groups backing Kevin Nicholson's candidacy.

By - Apr 23rd, 2018 09:27 am
Kevin Nicholson. Photo from Nicholson for Senate.

Kevin Nicholson. Photo from Nicholson for Senate.

MADISON — In case you missed it, a new report from ABC News reveals that Illinois billionaire Dick Uihlein “is involved in almost every single one of the top spending super PACs supporting [Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kevin] Nicholson.”

With Wisconsin’s Republican U.S. Senate primary still four months away, the Illinois-based megadonor has already poured $17.4 million into 10 groups backing Kevin Nicholson’s candidacy.

“Out-of-state billionaire Dick Uihlein isn’t even eligible to vote in Wisconsin’s Senate election, but that hasn’t stopped him from pouring in millions into our state to try to buy Kevin Nicholson a U.S. Senate seat,” said Brad Bainum, DPW spokesperson for the 2018 Senate race. “Nicholson is bought and paid for, and committed to helping Uihlein get even richer.”

Here are the highlights from ABC News‘s coverage:

The single biggest donor this election cycle, Richard “Dick” Uihlein, has quickly become a GOP power player in the past couple of years.

He and his wife Liz Uihlein […] together donated more than $25 million already so far this election cycle.

Uihlein’s biggest focus so far this cycle has been on supporting Republican Kevin Nicholson’s bid to unseat Democratic incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin in the Wisconsin Senate race. He is involved in almost every single one of the top spending super PACs supporting Nicholson.

[…]

Outside groups funded by Uihlein together have spent more than $6.1 million in the Wisconsin Senate race so far this year and pro-Baldwin groups have ramped up their spending to try and compete.

The face-off has resulted in a pricey contest that has attracted the largest amount of spending from outside groups. The Wisconsin race has already seen nearly $10 million in outside money.

Read more from ABC News.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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