There are two key takeaways from state Sen. Leah Vukmir’s Tuesday victory over Kevin Nicholson in the Wisconsin GOP Senate primary: First, money isn’t everything. Second, the Badger State’s Republican Party machine is even more powerful than people realized.

Nicholson both outraised and outspent Vukmir by roughly $1.5 million dollars. He had a major advantage in outside spending, too. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, outside groups spent $7.5 million supporting Nicholson and $1 million opposing him, compared with $1.5 million spent in support of Vukmir and $2.4 million spent opposing her.