Grassroots Activism Wins over Big Money: Wisconsin Leaders Fight Hard

When the historic 2011 recall elections in Wisconsin were over late this summer, conservatives withstood an assault from labor unions to maintain a 17-16 majority in the state senate. American Majority prepared the local Tea Party groups and other conservatives for these historic elections through training in or near all of the Senate recall districts in April and May. These grassroots individuals really made the difference in responding to the $25 million the Left spent attempting to buy control of the state senate. Moreover, local Tea Party leaders led the recall efforts of two state senators who fled to Illinois.

During the April Training Blitz, American Majority trained the two leaders of the recall committees for AWOL incumbents, Kim Simac and Dan Hunt. These leaders were instrumental in organizing the grassroots efforts of local groups. Further, American Majority trained two candidates running against AWOL incumbents, Kim Simac and Jonathan Steitz. The two challengers successfully defeated establishment candidates in their primaries before taking the incumbents to the wire on election night and rocking the status quo.

Although the two incumbents won re-election, the Tea Party told their elected officials loudly and clearly that they will be held accountable and must listen to their constituents.