Hintz believes he survived his challenge because he addressed the choice issue head on. He asked why “billionaires from out of state” were backing his opponent and vowed to protect public schools.

But Jensen notes that other Democrats, including Wright and Cates, “actively campaigned against school choice” and lost. “I’m puzzled why the Democrats thought it would be a winning issue,” he says.

Certainly, Jensen and his group have proven that other issues are more potent.

Bill Lueders is the Money and Politics Project director at the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism. The Center produces the project in partnership with MapLight.

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