Out-of-state Groups Spend Big on Green Bay Council Races

Independent expenditures from national PACs pour tens of thousands into local elections

Apr. 2, 2026 at 6:04pm

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Financial reports show that out-of-state entities have spent tens of thousands of dollars to support candidates in Green Bay's Common Council race. The money is coming from groups like the Democracy First PAC and the State + Local Election Alliance, which identify themselves as safeguards of free and fair elections. Candidates in the race have mixed feelings about the outside spending, with some saying it shouldn't be allowed in local elections.

Why it matters

The influx of outside money into local elections raises concerns about the influence of national groups and special interests on community-level politics. It also highlights the ongoing debate around campaign finance laws and the role of independent expenditures in elections.

The details

Over $30,000 was spent on behalf of incumbent Jim Hutchison's campaign in District 2, and more than $30,000 was spent on incumbent Joey Prestley's campaign in District 6. The money was spent through independent expenditures, which are not made in coordination with the candidates or their campaigns. Candidates like Andrew Brohnson and Andy Nicholson have criticized the outside spending, saying it gives an unfair advantage and that local races should be funded locally.

  • The independent expenditures were made between January 1, 2026 and April 8, 2026.
  • The Green Bay Common Council election is scheduled for April 2026.

The players

Jim Hutchison

Incumbent running to retain his District 2 seat on the Green Bay Common Council.

Joey Prestley

Incumbent running to retain his District 6 seat on the Green Bay Common Council.

Andrew Brohnson

Candidate running against Prestley in the District 6 race.

Andy Nicholson

Candidate running against Hutchison in the District 2 race.

Democracy First PAC

A group that identifies itself as a safeguard of free and fair elections and has spent money supporting candidates in the Green Bay Common Council races.

State + Local Election Alliance

Another group that identifies itself as a safeguard of free and fair elections and has spent money supporting candidates in the Green Bay Common Council races.

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What they’re saying

“I wish it never happened. I wish they didn't spend any money on me. I enjoy talking with people. I think my selling point is meeting people one-on-one.”

— Jim Hutchison, Incumbent running for District 2 seat

“I'm against it. I don't like this sort of money. This kind of money shouldn't be used for these sorts of races. If it's that amount of money being spent on these local races, that could be much better used for a different cause.”

— Joey Prestley, Incumbent running for District 6 seat

“For these local races, it should stay local. I think the max level as far as contributions should maybe come from the state level. Coming from a national PAC or any other large donor on a national level, seems like it's getting too big for the community we're trying to support.”

— Andrew Brohnson, Candidate running against Prestley

“These big corporations or these PAC money are basically buying elections, and that's not right. I'm independent and everything's coming out of my pocket. I'm trying to make ends meet, and basically, I am spending my own money. So, it's very difficult to fight the big monster out of Washington, D.C.”

— Andy Nicholson, Candidate running against Hutchison

What’s next

The Green Bay Common Council election is scheduled for April 2026. Voters will decide whether to retain the incumbent council members or elect the challengers.

The takeaway

The influx of outside money into Green Bay's local elections highlights the ongoing debate around campaign finance laws and the influence of national groups on community-level politics. Candidates have mixed feelings, with some arguing that local races should be funded locally, while others say the money is necessary to safeguard free and fair elections.