U.S. Congressman Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield
Township) reported significant funds raised in his first quarter campaign
finance report, further fueling speculation that he is positioning himself for
a run at the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Carl Levin
(D-Detroit). Mr. Peters raised $370,916 from January 1st to March 31st
of 2013, ending the period with $813,386 in cash on-hand.
Most see the race for the Democratic
nomination down to Mr. Peters and Debbie Dingell, wife of U.S. Representative
John Dingell (D-Dearborn) and member of the Wayne State University Board of
Governors.
On the GOP-side, the top fundraiser was U.S.
Representative Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph), reporting $475,607 raised and
$389,099 in cash on hand. Congressman Mike Rogers (R-Brighton) is in the best
cash on hand position with roughly $1.4 million, raising $164,500 for the first
quarter.
Also among those reportedly considering a run
for the Senate, U.S. Representative Justin Amash (R-Cascade Township) reported
raising $123,707 with $100,000 in debt and $114,492 in cash on hand.
Interesting among the reports filed was that
of newly-elected U.S. Representative Kerry Bentivolio (R-Milford) who won the
seat in 2012 following former-Rep. Thad McCotter’s well-publicized
disqualification. Congressman Bentivolio filed two reports, the first for the
committee from his 2012 election, which reported just over $30,000 raised and
over $200,000 in debt. The second report was filed for Mr. Bentivolio’s new
committee for his 2014 re-election effort, which reported nearly $41,000
raised, $35,749 in cash on hand, and no debt.