Both parties in the House have raised over $1 million in the fourth quarter, with Democrats slightly outraising Republicans by $54,000 in total contributions. Republicans have more cash on hand.
Wednesday, House Democrats filed $1,067,442 in total contributions through the Michigan House Democratic Fund, a new record for the fourth quarter of a non-election year. In total, House Dems raised $4.4 million in 2023.
By comparison, House Republicans came in with $1,012,988, also an off-year fourth quarter record for the House Republican Campaign Committee (HRCC), which House Republican Leader Matt Hall (R-Kalamazoo) lauded as historic support. In total, Republicans raised nearly $4.3 million in 2023.
Republicans ended the year with more cash on hand, after spending $55,148 this quarter, part of $233,775 spent during this election cycle. They’ll head into 2024 with $4,171,554, which House Republicans called a $642,000 advantage over House Democrats, and which is $1.1 million more than the caucus held after the fourth quarter of 2022.
HRCC Chair Andrew Beeler (R-Port Huron) said in the face of partisan stubbornness from Democrats, “record-breaking support continues to pour in for House Republicans.
“The House Republican caucus remains focused on representing Michiganders and making our state a better place for families to work and live,” Beeler said. “We will outwork everyone, keep earning the support of voters and take the House majority back this November.”
House Democrats spent $170,022 this quarter, part of $991,088 spent during this election cycle. They’ll enter 2024 with $3,529,335 cash on hand, also a new record for Michigan House Democrats in the fourth quarter of an off year, and double the caucus’ cash on hand at this time in 2021.
House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) thanked members and supporters for stepping up “to keep Democrats in the majority.” “We are carrying this momentum into 2024 and will continue to build on our success.”
When it came to leadership PAC’s, Tate raised the most in the House. His MI Forward Fund reported $103,772 raised this period, part of $209,128 raised in total this election cycle. His Joe Tate Leadership PAC raised $34,331 this period, but $451,640 in total this election cycle.
Rep. Angela Witwer (D-Lansing), House Appropriations Chair, raised a total of $82,605 this election cycle through her Securing Michigan’s Future PAC. Her Witwer for Michigan PAC raised $127,094.
On the Republican side, Hall’s Friends of Matt Hall PAC raised $5,750 this period, part of $41,750 raised this election cycle. The Matt Hall Majority Fund raised $60,250 this cycle.
Republican Floor Leader Bryan Posthumus (R-Rockford)’s Posthumus Majority Fund raised an additional $54,949.
Another PAC that gave maximum donations to the Republican causes is called the Michigan Cooperative Unity Partnership PAC. It received $50,000 from the Republican State Leadership Committee and $40,000 from six members of the DeVos family.
The PAC gave the maximum $48,875 a piece to the House and Senate Republican campaign committees. It also gave $100 to Rep. Jamie Thompson (R-Brownstown), Rep. Tom Kuhn (R-Troy) and Rep. Donni Steele (R-Lake Orion).
On the Senate side, the Senate Democratic Fund (SDF) outraised their Republican colleagues for the period and clipped them for the cumulative calendar year totals, as well.
The SDF raised $832,449 for the fourth quarter and $3.1 million for the 2023 calendar year. They end the year with $1.7 million in the bank and $0 debt. It received maximum $48,750 donations from Ann Arbor attorney Rachel Bendit, Ann Arbor’s Jonathan and Ashley Oberheide, University of Michigan Regent Mark Bernstein, the Michigan League of Conservation Voter PAC, Ann Arbor’s Douglas Song, Heidi Stolte of Seattle, Wash., and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s Legacy PAC.
The Senate Republican Campaign Committee reported raising $575,553 for the fourth quarter of 2023. Overall, they raised $3.092 million for the year. They end the year with $2 million in in the bank. For the period, Senate Majority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton)’s three PACs contributed about a quarter of the PAC’s total haul. Haworth CEO Matthew Haworth gave $45,000 and former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land gave another $28,875.
Article courtesy MIRS News for SBAM’s Lansing Watchdog newsletter
Click here for more News & Resources.