College Republicans of Wisconsin donated $86,000 to Republican gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., Dec. 30, according to Isthmus. This donation was just a portion of a larger donation made by conservative megadonors, Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein to College Republicans.
The Uihleins also donated $20,000 each to Tiffany, but party committees such as College Republicans are able to donate unlimited amounts, according to Isthmus.
“We congratulate the Wisconsin College Republicans on this impressive haul,” College Republicans of UW said in an email statement.
Both conservative and liberal candidates have made headway in the start of this election cycle, working to encourage Wisconsin voters to head to the polls for the open primaries by making appearances at forums, pushing television ads and door-to-door campaigning, according to the Wisconsin Examiner.
For almost all candidates, many of the funds running these kinds of campaigns are from individual donors and political action committees, according to the State of Wisconsin Ethics Commission.
Though only a portion of the original Uihlein donation was transferred to Tiffany, concerns have emerged regarding the principles of large corporate and ultra-wealthy donors influencing Wisconsin elections, and how that influence could affect civic engagement among the University of Wisconsin student body, Chair of the UW College Democrats of Wisconsin Ty Schanhofer said.
“People don’t like to see big money in politics,” Schanhofer said.
Concerns grew exponentially, especially after multi-billionaire Elon Musk gave million dollar donations to individuals to sway voters during the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race in favor of one candidate over the other, Schanhofer said.
Instances like this show how large amounts of money can put extra pressure on candidates and sparks debate about fairness and transparency, according to Schanhofer.
“I can’t give you a million dollars,” Schanhofer said. “Does that mean you’re still going to be a governor for me, and are you going to be looking out for my best interests?”
Through influences such as billionaires and out-of-state donors pouring huge sums of money into Wisconsin races, young voters on university campuses may worry whether elected leaders will prioritize wealthy donors over everyday concerns like affordability, Schanhofer said.
A few big, out of state donations could risk drowning out the voices of everyday Wisconsinites, especially UW students, who can oftentimes decide close races, according to Schanhofer. Whether these types of contributions help or hinder candidates, they raise real questions about who elected leaders serve, Schanhofer said.
