The top 150 PACs in Michigan have combined to raise $12.2 million so far in 2017, according to an analysis of new campaign finance disclosures. The total, which includes dollars raised as of July 20, is up about 11 percent over the same measure at the same point in the 2015-2016 election cycle. read more

posted on 08/09/2017

The top 15 fundraisers serving in state government have combined to attract more than $4.4 million in contributions over the first seven months of 2017. Most of the money has gone to officials’ candidate committees, which collect funds for their own campaigns for offices. But the officials are also raising money for PACs, which help fund other campaigns, nonprofit organizations and administrative accounts. read more

posted on 08/03/2017

Six statewide campaigns seeking to change Michigan law by gathering petition signatures have already combined to raise more than $2.7 million. A majority of that money continues to come from just a handful of sources. read more

posted on 08/01/2017

While they’re still a year away from collecting official votes for governor, a field of potential candidates in Michigan has already amassed more than $7.5 million in campaign cash. Six candidates officially running to be the state’s next governor and two potential candidates reported in fundraising disclosures due today that combined, they had $7.5 million sitting in accounts on July 20. read more

posted on 07/25/2017

The main fundraising committees of the House Republicans, the House Democrats, the Senate Republicans and the Senate Democrats combined to raise $3.1 million in 2017 as of July 20, according to campaign finance disclosures due today. Over the last decade, the four committees had previously never combined to raise more than $3 million as of July 20 in the year before the election year. read more

posted on 07/25/2017

As a handful of ballot proposal campaigns work this summer to change Michigan law in 2018, the names of many individuals and businesses whose dollars ultimately helped fund the campaigns are hidden from public view. read more

posted on 07/21/2017

Registered lobbyists have been frequent political donors in Michigan over the years, according to a new analysis of campaign finance disclosures. Since the start of 2012, five-and-a-half years ago, Michigan’s more than 1,300 registered lobbyists made $3.7 million in personal political contributions at the state level. read more

posted on 07/18/2017

The average U.S. House member from Michigan raised $1.3 million for 2016’s election. With the 2018 version still 15 months away, some of the contenders are already on their way to that number. Over the weekend, candidates who’ve been raising money to run for the U.S. House next year had to turn in new fundraising disclosures. read more

posted on 07/17/2017

Forty of Michigan's top campaign donors combined to give about $44 million in contributions at the state and federal levels last election cycle, according to the Michigan Campaign Finance Network's tracking. Eight families or individuals connected to Michigan gave more than $1 million each. read more

posted on 06/19/2017

As state lawmakers weighed millions of dollars in new incentives for businesses bringing large development projects, some of those pushing hardest for the incentives opened their checkbooks to make political contributions. read more

posted on 05/31/2017

If you’re a state lawmaker looking for a free meal, this week may be one of the premier weeks for you, according to the statistics. You’ll just have to head north. read more

posted on 05/30/2017

With individual donations reaching as high as $100,000, political action committees tied to 25 top Michigan officeholders raised $799,522 over the first months of 2017. Traditionally, interest groups use PACs to raise money and then to make contributions to candidates they prefer. But state officeholders, seeking to advance their own influence within Lansing, also use them. read more

posted on 05/11/2017

When it comes to changing Michigan law through ballot proposals, the early money appears to be on efforts to legalize marijuana. Two ballot committees focused on marijuana legalization have raised more money so far in 2017 than any other current ballot committee. read more

posted on 05/11/2017