STATEWIDE - Political campaigns and interest groups helped shatter state records during the recent recall elections.

Nearly $81 million was spent on the failed effort to recall Governor Scott Walker.

That's more than double than the 2010 Governor's race.

Government watchdog group the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign reported the figure today.

The 15 recall races in 2011 and this year cost a combined $137 million.

"Just the overall amount of spending is astonishing," Mike McCabe from the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign said.

"The other thing that jumps out is how much of the money comes from outside Wisconsin. Both the money spent by candidates on their own campaigns and the money spent by interest groups on both sides."

In the Governor's race, Republicans outspent Democrats almost two and a half to one.

Republicans spent about $59 million dollars while Democrats spent about $22 million.

For all the recalls over the past two years, Republicans outspent Democrats by $32 million.

Of the 15 races, only three incumbent Republicans were tossed from office.

Story By: Matt Doyle