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Rebecca Kleefisch announced Monday that she raised more than $3.3 million in her first four months of campaigning for Wisconsin governor, one of the largest amounts for any candidate's first fundraising report.
The political action committee Freedom Wisconsin PAC, created to help Kleefisch, reportedly raised $277,000. The largest first-report haul was in 2007 by Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul with $6 million.
Kleefisch's fundraising totals, and her continued push to lock down Republican supporters, might serve as a deterrent to others getting into the race.
Hours after Kleefisch announced her totals, Evers reported bringing in $10 million for the entire year, while Kleefisch's totals are for the last four months since announcing her candidacy in September. Evers' campaign said it had $10.5 million on hand entering 2022.
Kleefisch's vision is to build a stronger Wisconsin, while offering support for law enforcement, keeping elections safe and secure, and expand school choices for parents to have an easier option as to where to send their children to school.
"In only four months, hard-working Wisconsinites from every corner of the state have embraced our grassroots movement," Kleefisch said in a statement. "Our campaign has the infrastructure that will unite conservatives to take back Wisconsin and retire [Democratic Governor] Tony Evers."
Kevin Nicholson, another Republican, is expected to join the race soon. Kleefisch, a lieutenant governor for eight years, is one of the biggest-name Republicans hoping to unseat Evers.
Wisconsin's governor's race is expected to be one of the most expensive and hotly contested in the country. Evers stands as a block to the Republican-controlled state Legislature and Democrats are desperate to keep him in place to stop the GOP agenda ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Evers' campaign spokesman had no immediate comment on Kleefisch's fundraising numbers.
Her campaign released only the total of what she raised and that donations came from nearly 7,000 people in all 72 Wisconsin counties. Reports showing details including who donated to all the candidates, how much they spent and how much money they had on hand at the end of the year are due on January 18.
Kleefich's initial haul is the largest for any candidate's first report over the past four gubernatorial elections. The previous high was $1.3 million reported by Republican Mark Neumann in 2010. Former Governor Scott Walker raised $1.1 million over his first reporting period in 2009.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
1/10/22, 3:30 p.m.: This story was updated to reflect the release of Gov. Tony Evers' campaign fundraising totals.
