Big Spenders

$63.5M Poured Into Wisc. Recall

State’s most expensive election ever.

Sitting Gov. Scott Walker will try to keep his job Tuesday as Wisconsinites head to the polls in an historic recall election, one that has seen more than $63 million poured into the state. Thanks to a century-old ban on independent expenditures by corporations and unions, more money has been spent on the recall than any other election before it, including the 2010 governor’s race, which saw a mere $37.4 million in campaign spending. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Walker’s Democratic challenger, has received 26 percent of his $4 million from out of state. Walker, meanwhile, has collected around 65 percent of his $30.5 million from beyond Badger State borders. Barrett entered the race in late March.