Partisan dollars increase despite non-partisan Wausau mayoral race

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) - With just four days remaining until the Spring General Election, mayoral contenders Incumbent Mayor Katie Rosenberg and Doug Diny are intensifying their efforts, with ongoing campaign spending as the countdown continues.

Both Rosenberg and Diny have poured tens of thousands into advertisements, campaign signage, and various other expenses to secure victory. According to political science professor emeritus Co-Director of the Center for the Small City at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Ed Miller, spending in elections is a crucial aspect but not the sole determinant of success. He said in this election, where the candidates got donations from is also worth noting.

“Most of the money that she (Rosenberg) received was from individuals in Wisconsin. In his case, he (Diny) half the money did not come from individuals. They came from various committees,” Miller said.

From February 6 – March 18, challenger Doug Diny raised nearly $85,000. Roughly half of it was from individual donors — the other half from political committees.

Comparatively, incumbent Mayor Katie Rosenberg raised more than $19,000, 95% of which came from individual donors, and the other 5% from political committees.

Republican committees have notably contributed approximately $43,000 to Diny’s campaign, per the latest campaign finance report which ended on March 18. Since then, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin has donated $191,000 to Rosenberg’s campaign.

NewsChannel 7 reached out to the State Republican Party for comment on additional donations to Diny’s campaign since March 18th but has yet to receive a response.

“Nobody fights harder for Wausau families than Mayor Katie—from ensuring everyone has access to clean, PFAS-free water, to expanding the number of firefighters on the job for the first time since 1970. When right-wing special interests roll into town with notions of buying the mayor’s office out from under the people of Wausau, you better believe we’re going to have Mayor Katie’s back,” Joe Oslund, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin’s Communications Director, said.

The party also helped produce campaign television commercials authorized by Rosenberg.

“Rosenberg just recently came in with some commercials, as the Democratic Party put some money into her campaign because of the fact it was really imbalanced,” Miller said.

Despite the nonpartisan nature of the competition, political parties have shown keen interest. This is something Miller said is not uncommon.

“Many of them (nonpartisan races) are partisan, even though they’re technically nonpartisan. This is a clear illustration of that. It is a very strong illustration of that,” Miller said.

Election Day is April 2nd.

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