Governor
Governor Snyder’s re-election campaign was
funded by employees working for some of the state’s most recognizable business,
while unions donated heavily to his likely Democratic challenger, Mark Schauer.
Governor Snyder raised $5.08 million, spent
$1.9 million ($695,000 on fall television advertisements), and had $4 million
on hand as of December 31. Mr. Schauer’s campaign raised $1.63 million and
report $1.05 million on hand.
While Mr. Snyder again did not take PAC
contributions, Mr. Schauer received $341,742 from PACs, with $271,400 stemming
from union PACs.
Both candidates took advantage of the
doubling of maximum contributions under PA 252 of 2013, which took effect
December 27, giving donors who already were at the previous maximum five days
to increase their contributions so they would apply to the 2013 fundraising
period. Governor Snyder; however, received far more money as a result. Mr.
Snyder had 102 contributors giving more than $3,400, and 33 at the $6,800
maximum. Mr. Schauer had about 30 go above $3,400 and 10 donate $6,800.
House
House Republicans continued to outraise House
Democrats in the last quarter of 2013, with $447,491 raised and $1.37 million
cash on hand. Democratic fundraising totaled $207,911 with $947,130 cash on
hand.
Both the House Republican Campaign Committee
and the House Democratic Fund reported zero debts. The Republicans spent $34,017
during the quarter and the Democrats spent $35,994.
House Democrats boasted 934 different donors
who contributed to the fund, compared to the Republicans who had 44 different
donors.
Only three Republicans and one Democratic
incumbent have primary challenges at this point. Representative Dave Pagel
(R-Berrien Springs) in the 78th House District is being challenged
by a Tea Party member. Mr. Pagel raised $7,575 during 2013, spent $2,049, and
has $6,947 cash on hand. His opponent, Jim Walker, raised $1,265 with no
expenditures or obligations.
Representative Al Pscholka (R-Stevensville)
also has a Tea Party challenger in the 79th House District. Mr.
Pscholka raised $61,987 and spent $21,599. He also has $7,587 left over from
the previous campaign and ended the year with $47,974 cash on hand. His
opponent, Cindy Duran, raised $8,270, spent $1,225, and ended the year with
$7,045 cash on hand.
Lee Chatfield announced a challenge to
Representative Frank Foster (R-Petoskey) in the 107th House
District. Mr. Foster raised $56,612 in 2012 and spent $21,948, leaving him with
$51,221 cash on hand. Mr. Chatfield did not form his committee until
mid-January, so he did not have to file a report for fundraising in 2013.
Representative Brian Banks (D-Detroit) in the
1st House District is the only Democrat to be challenged so far in a
primary for 2014. His challenger, Rebecca Thompson, raised $20,098, spent
$4,575, loaned herself $915, and ending the year with $15,375.
Representative Banks trails his challenger
with $14,450 raised in 2013. He spent $6,145 and ended the year with $9,669
cash on hand.
Senate
Senate Republicans raised $445,593 in the last
reporting period, nearly seven times more than the $64,000 raised by Senate
Democrats during the same timeframe. Senate Republicans also have a roughly
3-to-1 advantage when it comes to cash on-hand: $1.57 million compared to
$526,410 for Senate Democrats.
In the 13th District, Ryan
Fishman, a lawyer and Republican-turned-Democrat, raised $104,900 during the
reporting period and still has $92,565 cash on hand. He personally contributed
$33,481 to that sum. By contrast, his fellow Democratic candidate Cyndi
Peltonen, only raised $1,145 and has $1,092 on hand.
Mr. Fishman matched well against
Representative Tom McMillin (R-Rochester Hills), who raised $54,954 in the
reporting period and had $52,869 cash on hand in his Senate campaign committee.
Former Representative Chuck Moss, a
Birmingham Republican, did the best in the 13th district race in
terms of cash on hand. He transferred $102,191 from his House campaign
committee to his Senate committee, where records showed he had raised $162,291
during the reporting period (including the transfer from the now-dissolved
House committee). Mr. Moss has $160,175 on hand.