Outside, partisan spending on local non-partisan elections is bigger than we thought

The amount is driving total spending close to six figures

The Wausonian recently published a story about finally getting campaign finance filings for the 2026 elections. It was a story about how the former Wausau City Clerk essentially ignored a records request.

As you might have seen, there were very few campaign finance reports filed locally. Only two, in fact: Keene Winters and Vylius Leskys.

And yet, this reporter received campaign flyers for local candidates and was aware of other materials (a billboard promoting Matt Hoenecke in District 7, for instance).

I learned the State and Local Election Alliance had spent money in local races and included a brief mention.

The story was really meant to be about the former clerk’s refusing to fulfill a pretty simple records request.

The former clerk has as of publication not responded to request for comment for that last story.

But I received some feedback about outside spending, leading The Wausonian to believe there might have been even more spending on local races.

The Wausonian dug through state-level campaign finance data and found more than had previously been reported.

A lot more.