MADISON – Republican candidate for governor Tom Tiffany heads into the general election with 10 times as much cash as any Democratic candidate with nearly $5 million to spend after raising nearly as much just in July, new campaign finance filings show.
The vast majority of what Tiffany raised in July came from the state Republican Party, which transferred $4 million to the Tiffany campaign in two separate donations.
The transfers were made after the party received $9 million across three donations between May and July from megadonors Elizabeth and Richard Uihlein and another $2.5 million from Diane Hendricks in June.
Tiffany’s campaign haul dwarfed what Democratic candidates for governor raised in July ahead of the Aug. 11 primary election.
Democrat David Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, led the primary field in July fundraising, bringing in $775,813 after relaunching his campaign July 17 with Gov. Tony Evers’ endorsement. Crowley received a $20,000 contribution from the governor’s campaign fund.
Candidates’ final round of finance reports before the primary were due Aug. 3.
The latest reports offer a glimpse into fundraising efforts during a series of explosive developments that included Crowley’s departure from and return to the race, the end of Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez’s bid for governor after a campaign finance scandal and increased national attention on the primary frontrunner, democratic socialist Francesca Hong.
The reports cover money raised and spent from July 1-27.
Democrats’ fundraising haul paled in comparison to Tiffany, who reported bringing in $4.61 million last month. After spending $2.65 million in July, Tiffany reported a cash balance of $4.97 million.
David Crowley gets funding boost from unions, Gov Tony Evers
Crowley reported raising about $26,000 in the first part of the month before he ended his campaign July 8 and endorsed Rodriguez the following day. Crowley got back in the race July 17 after Rodriguez dropped out.
The bulk of his fundraising after reviving his campaign came from labor unions. Crowley received the maximum allowed $86,000 each from the Wisconsin Laborers District Council and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Crowley also pulled in another $84,000 from the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 139 and $81,000 from the Wisconsin Pipe Trades Association. The Professional Firefighters of Wisconsin gave $20,000.
Crowley also received $20,000 from his predecessor Chris Abele the day he announced his plan to revive his campaign. Two other donors gave the maximum allowed $20,000 contribution: Mara Wallace of Palo Alto, Calif., and Milwaukee’s Joan Lubar.
Crowley’s fundraising total for the year is $1.03 million. He reported spending $627,922 last month, leaving him with a $463,070 cash balance at the end of July.
Francesca Hong, the pollilng frontrunner, reports financial results
Hong, who leads the field in statewide polling, reported raising $338,758 in July. Her campaign was second-to-last in Democratic fundraising in January, but in 2026 she has raised about $1.05 million. She spent $343,204 last month, leaving her with $406,117 on hand.
Former Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan raised $145,477 last month, bringing his total for the year to $811,104. He spent $221,431 in July, leaving him with $283,629 in the bank.
Trailing Brennan was state Sen. Kelda Roys, who reported bringing in $126,198 in July for a total this year of $653,630. Roys spent $451,581 last month, leaving her with a cash balance of $81,110.
Candidates who have dropped out of the race are still required to file reports.
Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who ended his campaign July 30, reported raising $289,485 last month, bringing his total for the year to $1.13 million. He reported a cash balance of $124,498 on hand at the end of the month.
Rodriguez, who announced July 12 she had fired her campaign manager after discovering financial mismanagement, stayed in the race seeking to overcome the revelation for a few days. She ended her campaign July 17, hours before Crowley announced he would return to the race.
In Rodriguez’s report, she included a line saying she reimbursed Wisconsin Forward Fund $52,900 for “funds borrowed from C4 account in error.” Wisconsin Forward Fund is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that spent heavily to back Rodriguez. Coordination, such as borrowing money, is illegal.
A spokeswoman for Rodriguez’s campaign did not immediately answer questions about the reimbursement.
The lieutenant governor’s latest finance report shows she raised $285,709 in July, with a total of $691,723 for 2026. The report shows $394,908 in spending for the month, leaving her with a reported $43,474 on hand and $269,958 of incurred obligations to pay.
Former Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. head Missy Hughes did not report raising any money last month, leaving her total for the year at $148,439.
Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tom Tiffany heads into general election with nearly $5M in cash
Reporting by Molly Beck, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By Molly Beck, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
