Ryan Sorenson raised over $100,000 in bid to be reelected Sheboygan Mayor
Sheboygan's 2025 mayoral election was the most expensive in history
SHEBOYGAN — Mayor Ryan Sorenson and his allies spent a staggering amount of cash to win a second term as Mayor of Sheboygan.
WKTS News obtained campaign finance reports from Sorenson and his challenger, John Belanger. The finance reports reveal that Sorenson raised a total of $100,809.84 while Belanger raised just shy of $12,000. While Sorenson did not formally announce that he would seek a second term until January, he was actively fundraising last July. For the last six months of 2024, he raised $9,527.28
Between January 1st and February 3rd, Sorenson raised $7,958. Between February 4th and March 17th, he reported raising $62,926.64.
Sorenson, who is 31-years-old, is the first candidate in Sheboygan history to have raised over $100,000 on a campaign for the Mayor’s Office. So where did all of that cash come from? Sorenson’s top donors including his mother Jo Ann Sorenson and father James Sorenson who donated $940 each, the maximum amount allowed by law. His disabled brother Zack Sorenson also donated $940. Vince Cassiani of Appleton, Diane Ebenreiter of Plymouth, Chue Neng Lee of Sheboygan, and Barb Sheehan, wife of Democrat Representative Joe Sheehan, each donated $938 in the lead up to April’s election.
Big names gave big dollars
Well-known individuals that donated to Sorenson’s re-election campaign include:
Kyle Whelton of Milwaukee: $935
John C. Miller of Kohler: $500
Victoria Vollrath of Town of Rhine: $500
Pam Oehldrich of Sheboygan: $500
John Ranleri of Sheboygan: $500
Deb Sabol-Williams of Sheboygan: $300
Maeve Quinn of Sheboygan: $250
Hugh Ross of Sheboygan: $350
Attorney John Fitzgerald of Chicago: $250
Mary Lynne Donohue of Sheboygan: $200
Lobbyist and Advisor Matt Boor of Cleveland: $200
Former Lobbyist Maxwell Love of Milwaukee: $100
Persons of Interest
Among those who donated to Sorenson include former Democratic Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot who gave $25, current Democratic Mayor of Madison Satya Rhodes-Conway also chipped in $25, Milwaukee Alderman Peter Burgelis donated $25. Manitowoc Mayor Justin Nickels gave $50. Liberal radio talk show host John 'Sly' Sylvester of Madison was more generous with a $250 donation while Mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska Leirion Gaylor Baird with $100.
Martha Cranley, a lobbyist with AARP in Madison, donated $150. Megan Hull, a liberal activist from Washington, DC donated $250. Sheboygan School Board members Peter Madden donated $250, Kay Robbins donated $96.20 while Leah Hibl donated $100. Alderwoman Grazia Perrella donated $100, Redevelopment Authority Chair Roberta Filicky-Peneski donated $200 and State Representative Joe Sheehan donated $150. Jordan Primakow, a lobbyist with the City of Sheboygan, donated $50. School teacher and Alderman Zach Rust’s wife, Mickenzie Petrie-Rust, chipped in $50.
Sorenson received donations from Illinois, California, New York, Minnesota, Washington, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Georgia and Texas as well as the District of Columbia.
Democratic Party funded campaign
In addition to raising $28,225.60 from individuals, Sorenson received $67,646.24 from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and $1,000 from the Sheboygan County Democratic Party.
Special interests and unions played a part of Sorenson’s campaign. He received $939 from IBEW of Milwaukee, $900 from the Wisconsin Carpenters PAC of Madison, $700 from REALTORS of Madison, $500 from SEIU Wisconsin State Council of Madison, $400 from Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 400 of Kaukauna, $250 from United Staff Union of Green Bay and $250 from Victory Fund of Washington, DC.
Belanger’s efforts fell short
The 2nd District Alderman, who unseated Roberta Filicky-Peneski in April 2024, announced his candidacy in early December. According to campaign finance reports, he raised $11,998. He received $6,148 from 18 individuals, all from Sheboygan.
Top donors to Belanger’s campaign include:
Stephen Werner (Belanger’s brother-in-law): $1,000
Mike Langan, Managing Director at BMO Harris Bank: $1,000
Tom Liebl, owner of the Sheboygan Paper Box Company: $998
John Rohde, owner of Century 21 Moves: $500
Dr. William Trager, Pediatrician: $500
Dr. Bill Wagner, Retired: $500
Amy Binsfield, former Republican State Representative: $300
The Republican Party of Sheboygan County funneled $5,000 to Belanger's campaign while the Republican Party of Wisconsin provided $702.73. The Lakeshore Landlord Association (LLA) contributed $600. According to the LLA website, they are a non-stock, non-profit corporation providing education and legislative support to investment property owners and managers. The organization is not registered with the State of Wisconsin or the IRS. A group called the Lakeshore Apartment Association using the same P.O. Box in Sheboygan is linked to Tim Herr of Oostburg.
Belanger reported spending $5,004.80 on radio advertising, $3,440.13 on yard signs, $1,463.18 on literature, $1,100 on social media and $650 on newspaper advertising. He reported having $16.65 left in his campaign bank account.
In the end, Belanger came up short against Sorenson. When the votes were counted, he received 6,332 votes to Sorenson’s 8,843 votes.
As for Belanger’s future, his term on the Common Council expires in April 2026. He has not indicated if he will seek another term. Earlier this summer, several of his mayoral campaign yard signs were seen stored in his garage at his Memorial Neighborhood home. This was his second attempt at becoming Mayor of Sheboygan. In 2017, he ran against incumbent Mayor Mike Vandersteen. Belanger received 1,678 votes while Vandersteen received 3,952.
Follow WKTS News on Facebook and Instagram for the latest local news.
But how much was SPENT?