Republicans Praise Wisconsin’s New Anti-'Zuckerbucks’ Measures

Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg arrives to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington on Jan. 31, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

The Republican National Committee (RNC) praised the passage of two proposals that restrict outside money and non-election officials from elections in Wisconsin.

“This win emphasizes that Americans support basic election integrity safeguards in battleground states like Wisconsin and around the country,” said Michael Whatley, the chair of the RNC.

He was former President Donald J. Trump’s pick to lead the organization.

The two measures will amend the state constitution in Wisconsin, which is shaping up to be one of the most critical states in the 2024 presidential election.

One would “provide that private donations and grants may not be applied for, accepted, expended, or used in connection with the conduct of any primary, election, or referendum.”

The second is intended to ensure that elections, referenda, and primaries are supervised by “only election officials designated by law.”

Both referenda were generally championed by Republican officials in the state, including in the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate.

“Last year, the legislature voted to pass two joint resolutions in the area of election integrity. As voters head to the polls this spring, they will have the opportunity to enshrine these policies into the Wisconsin Constitution,” State Sen. Duey Stroebel, a Republican, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on March 28, ahead of the April 2 election.

Their Democrat counterparts were broadly opposed.

“As Wisconsinites head to vote this election, they’ll see constitutional questions on election funding. I voted NO when these came to the floor because our clerks and poll workers deserve the resources necessary to help every citizen vote. Let’s put conspiracy theories to rest,” Rep. Greta Neubauer, ranking Democrat in the Assembly, wrote on X on March 25.

Concerns over outside money in elections, particularly in Wisconsin, grew in part out of the 2020 presidential election. Outside money from Facebook billionaire Mark Zuckerberg’s foundation amounted to more than $400 million across the country and more than $10 million in Wisconsin, which President Joe Biden narrowly claimed that year.

Former President Donald Trump (L) is introduced by North Carolina Republican Party chairman Michael Whatley before speaking in Greenville, N.C., on June 5, 2021. Jonathan Drake/Reuters

While the measures’ supporters argued the money was key to bridging gaps in elections management during COVID-19, critics such as the conservative Foundation for Government Accountability countered that the organization’s “Zuckerbucks” disproportionately targeted Democrat strongholds in Wisconsin.

“Wisconsin voters have made it clear that they do not want Zuckerbucks or dark-money interests influencing their local elections,” Mr. Whatley said in his statement on the results.

The RNC statement claimed their election integrity team “filed 1100 election observer shifts across the state to ensure transparency at the polls for the voting on Questions 1 and 2.”

The statement also noted that RNC attorneys were in an “election integrity war room” monitoring and addressing reported problems for voters at the polls.

A spokesperson from the Wisconsin Elections Commission told The Epoch Times the RNC was “best positioned to speak to” how many shifts they filed.

The Republican Party of Wisconsin (RPW) also released a statement celebrating the outcome.

“Wisconsin has spoken and the message is clear: elections belong to voters, not out-of-state billionaires. Thanks to the efforts by the Republican Party of Wisconsin and grassroots organizing, Wisconsinites have turned the page on Zuckerbucks and secured our elections from dark money donors,” Wisconsin Republican Party Chair Brian Schimming said.

Residents cast their ballots during in-person absentee voting at City Hall in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Nov. 4, 2022. Scott Olson/Getty Images

A statement on the April 2 primary election from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin did not mention the passage of the constitutional amendments.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the party for comment.

President Trump also advocated the measures during his April 2 rally in Green Bay, shortly before voting in the primary ended.

“Make sure you vote ‘Yes’ on ballot questions 1 and 2. You know what that is. That’s ban Zuckerbucks. Ban Zuckerbucks,” he said to applause from the crowd.