The race for the Milwaukee-area state Senate seat held by Democrat Jim Sullivan likely will be the state’s most expensive legislative race.
Both Sullivan and Republican challenger Leah Vukmir, a state representative who like Sullivan hails from Wauwatosa, each reported warchests for the first half of the election year totaling about $120,000.
The 5th District, which comprises much of the area immediately west of Milwaukee, has been targeted by Republicans as their top pickup opportunity this year. Vukmir nearly doubled incumbent Sullivan in fundraising in the first half of this year, raising $85,204 while spending $48,638. Vukmir reported $120,778 cash on hand.
Sullivan, after raising $42,759 and spending $17,185, reported $119,885 at the end of the period.
Meanwhile, another Milwaukee-region Republican target, Dem Sen. John Lehman of Racine, reported raising $35,116 and spending $6,851, leaving his campaign with a cash-on-hand balance of $96,566. Lehman will likely face Van Wanggaard, also of Racine, who banked $44,098 after raising $28,461 and spending $13,450.
– WisPolitics.com
