Politics & Government

Darling Raised $1.3 Million During 2011 Recall Push, Watchdog Group Says

Democracy Campaign says 22 state lawmakers involved in recalls last summer raised more than $8 million — four times more than what the rest of the Legislature raised.

A new report shows that Republican Sen. Alberta Darling led 22 state legislators involved in fundraising during last year's recall frenzy with $1.3 million, according to a nonpartisan watchdog group.

Combined, lawmakers raised a total $8.2 million and when throwing fundraising by special interest groups into the mix, that number swells to $12.2 million, the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign says.

The $8.2 million is more than four times the $1.9 million raised by the rest of the Legislature, the group found.

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Two Republican lawmakers were removed from office during the summer recall elections, but Darling, of River Hills, wasn’t one of them.

She won a race against Rep. Sandy Pasch (D-Whitefish Bay), who ranked fourth in fundraising at $807,535.

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Republican Sen. Dan Kapanke of La Crosse was right behind Darling with $1.1 million raised, though he lost his race to then Democratic State Rep. Jennifer Shilling of La Crosse. 

An earlier report by the same group had Darling's individual spending at $1.1 million.


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