While no races were as expensive as the most competitive in 2018, costs were were up. read more

posted on 06/21/2021

After weeks of speculation, the Governor's office disclosed that a nonprofit used to fund her inauguration had mostly paid for a private flight to Florida in March. Her staff characterized the nonprofit as an administrative account, and despite pledging transparency, the picture offered of the nonprofit's finances is far from complete. read more

posted on 05/14/2021

Michigan has no requirements for financial disclosures for anyone in the legislature or executive branch, and is one of just two states without any requirements for the legislature. Without them, it becomes much more difficult to determine if government officials have made self-serving decisions. read more

posted on 05/04/2021

Amid pressure, special interests largely withheld contributions to the five U.S. Representatives from Michigan who took action to delay or block the certification of the November election. read more

posted on 04/23/2021

More than $200 million was spent in the race between John James and Gary Peters, easily making in the most expensive single election in Michigan's history. read more

posted on 03/03/2021

The Michigan Republican Party was roiled by accusations that money from a secretive account had been used to pay candidates to abandon their runs for office. Potential campaign finance violations aside, experts tell MCFN it may not be illegal. read more

posted on 02/11/2021

A husband and wife duo held two of the highest-paying jobs as policy staff in the Michigan House. At the same time, their political consulting firm took in hundreds of thousands of dollars from members of the Republican caucus they helped oversee. read more

posted on 12/30/2020

Nine districts attracted a total of more than $1 million in contributions — the most ever. In all but seven of the 110 districts the candidate with the most money won. read more

posted on 12/30/2020

Vague FEC rules and a 2014 supreme court decision meant campaigns could use Michigan’s state parties to bypass contribution limits and spend unlimited amounts on political mail with campaigns' tailored messages. read more

posted on 12/02/2020

Ads on broadcast television, radio and cable in Michigan, by themselves, eclipsed the total spending of the 2018 election. read more

posted on 11/03/2020

Republicans have maintained a cash advantage heading into election day, despite Democratic candidates out-raising their GOP counterparts, in part through a new source of funding: small-dollar donations from outside Michigan. read more

posted on 11/03/2020

At least $15 million will be spent advertising in Michigan's state House races, outpacing 2018 — both chambers included. Explore a district-by-district breakdown. read more

posted on 10/30/2020

Outside groups have outspent than the candidates for both major parties as the ideological lean of the court hangs in the balance. read more

posted on 10/28/2020

"Election season" or not, advertising spending in Michigan has increased explosively in the runup to in-person voting. And it’s not because Michiganders are generously contributing to their preferred candidates. Outside groups and dark money organizations are outspending campaigns two-to-one. read more

posted on 10/21/2020