Campaign finance reports filed this week showed
a mixed bag for GOP and Democratic candidates for competitive State Senate
seats.
In the 25th District where Senator
Phil Pavlov (R-St. Claire) is fighting off challenger State Representative
Terry Brown (D-Pigeon), Pavlov holds a significant cash on-hand advantage
heading into the last couple of months of the campaign. Representative Brown
reported $32,008 on-hand compared to the incumbent’s $137,990.
The 31st Senate District, while
competitive in years past, appears to be a foregone conclusion if one examines
finance reports alone. Incumbent Senator Mike Green (R-Mayville) has $133,132
on-hand after having to spend over $200,000 in the GOP primary to fight off a
challenge from State Representative Kevin Daley (R-Lum). Senator Green’s
opponent in the general election, Democrat Ron Mindykowski, reported $8,364 in
cash on-hand.
To the west, incumbent Senator Goeff Hansen
(R-Hart) is fighting off a challenge from Oceana County Road Commissioner Cathy
Forbes who the Democrats are touting as a formidable opponent. Senator Hansen,
though, has outperformed Ms. Forbes in funds raised, funds spent, and current
cash on-hand. Senator Hansen has raised $321,388 for the cycle and has $254,452
on-hand while Ms. Forbes has raised $88,630 total and has $8,355 on-hand.
Democrats have much to cheer about as Dem
candidates have posted financial advantages in three competitive seats heading
into the last two months of the campaign.
In the 7th Senate District,
incumbent Senator Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton Township) reported only $27,742
cash on-hand compared to Democratic challenger State Representative Dian
Slavens (D-Canton Township) who reported $156,642. Rep. Slavens raised $40,190
during the recent filing period while Senator Colbeck raised $15,984.
State Representative Stacy Erwin Oakes
(D-Saginaw), fresh off a primary victory over Garnet Lewis, now faces former
Republican State Representative Ken Horn (R-Frankenmuth) in the race to replace
term-limited Senator Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw Township) where she currently holds
a financial advantage. Rep. Oakes raised an impressive $34,052 during the
recent period, compared to Mr. Horn’s $1,600. Ms. Oakes has $113,071 cash
on-hand and Mr. Horn has $75,949. Overall, Rep. Oakes has outraised Mr. Horn by
roughly $50,000 ($240,851 vs. $191,495).
The most impressive numbers for a Democratic
candidate, though, came in the newly drawn 20th Senate District
where State Representative Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo) is running against fellow
State Representative Margaret O’Brien (R-Portage). Representative McCann raised
$43,170 for the period and $311,598 overall for the cycle compared to Rep.
O’Brien’s $15,431 for the period and $189,268 for the cycle. Most significant
perhaps is Rep. McCann’s cash-on hand advantage of $244,768 to $81,322 for Rep.
O’Brien.