Civics: Wisconsin election overseers donate thousands to candidates
Five of the six elections commissioners and four of the six ethics commissioners have donated to candidates or political parties in 2024. The most any one individual gave was Thomsen, who contributed over $14,000, primarily to Democratic candidates for state and local office in the Milwaukee area.
The Cap Times reached out to all 12 Ethics and Elections commission members for this story. Just two — Thomsen and Jacobs — returned phone calls or emails.
Nearly half of the 72 county clerks across the state have made donations. Most of the clerks who donated sent the money to their local county Republican or Democratic party. The most active is Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell, who has given $600 so far this year to local Democratic candidates for the state Assembly, as well as the campaign arm for state Senate Democrats.
McDonell did not return a message seeking an interview.
