More than $3 million has been spent in the race for Assembly District 85, which covers Wausau and Weston, and most of that money has arrived through Wisconsin's two major state parties.
Republican incumbent Patrick Snyder has held the seat since 2017. He has received more than $1.5 million from the Republican Party of Wisconsin this cycle, plus about $95,000 from individual donors and political action committees.
Democratic challenger John Kroll, of Necedah, has received about $1.7 million from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and raised about $215,000 more from people and political action committees. Kroll works in the building trades, studied energy efficiency, and serves as a Marathon County board supervisor.
State law allows political parties to raise and pass on unlimited amounts, and both parties have been fueled by very large donors this year. The heavy party spending in the district follows the newer, more competitive legislative maps used starting in 2024, when Snyder won re-election by about seven points after raising more than $1 million.
Democrats need a net gain of five seats to take a majority in the 99-seat Assembly for the first time since 2010. Early voting began Oct. 20, and Election Day is Nov. 3.
