Brian Calley President and Chief Executive Officer at Small Business Association of Michigan | Official website
Brian Calley President and Chief Executive Officer at Small Business Association of Michigan | Official website
No incumbent House Democrat running for re-election in a competitive district has less cash on hand than their Republican challenger, according to new campaign finance documents submitted to the Bureau of Elections on Thursday.
Conversely, there is a 50/50 chance that a Democratic challenger to an incumbent House Republican has more cash on hand going into September than their opponent.
The campaign finance numbers gathered by reporter Simon Schuster of Bridge Michigan indicate that individual House Democratic candidates often significantly surpass their Republican opponents in fundraising.
For example:
- Of the 19 House incumbents and challengers who reported having at least $100,000 in cash on hand as of August 26, 17 were Democrats and two were Republicans. The top seven fundraisers were all Democrats.
- Rep. Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City) leads in fundraising, having raised over half a million dollars for her re-election bid and amassing $384,500 in cash on hand, more than $100,000 ahead of any other candidate.
- Only four state House candidates raised more than $100,000 between July 22 and August 26. All four were Democrats: Coffia, Rep. Jaime Churches (D-Wyandotte), 46th District candidate Daniel Mahoney, and 54th District candidate Shadia Martini.
- For the entire campaign cycle starting January 1, 2023, the top eleven House fundraisers are all Democrats: Coffia, Churches, Rep. Jenn Hill (D-Marquette), Rep. Reggie Miller (D-Belleville), Rep. Jim Haadsma (D-Battle Creek), Rep. Joey Andrews (D-St. Joseph), Rep. Jennifer Conlin (D-Ann Arbor), Rep. Carol Glanville (D-Grand Rapids), Rep. Nate Shannon (D-Sterling Heights), Rep. John Fitzgerald (D-Wyoming), and Martini.
- Of the 36 House candidates with campaign debt exceeding $12,001, only four are Republicans.
Democratic challengers with more money than their Republican opponents as of August 26 include Janise O’Neill Robinson ($155,957) over Rep. Jamie Thompson (R-Brownstown) ($37,966) in the 28th District; Kyle Wright ($17,131) over Rep. James DeSana (R-Carleton) ($9,390) in the 29th District; Mahoney ($159,159) over Rep. Kathy Schmaltz (R-Jackson) ($85,424) in the 46th District; Martini ($222,956) over Rep. Donni Steele (R-Lake Orion) ($96,342) in the 54th District; and Rudy Howard ($21,667 over Beson $11,720) in the 96th District.
Article courtesy MIRS News for SBAM’s Lansing Watchdog newsletter
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