Big Money Flowing To Officeholders’ Leadership PACs: Here’s Who’s Giving
With Individual Contributions As High As $250,000, Top Lawmakers’ Personal PACs Are Raising More Money For 2018 Than Past Elections
By CRAIG MAUGER
Michigan Campaign Finance Network
LANSING (AUG. 14, 2018) — Since the start of 2017, more than $5 million has flowed to Michigan officeholders’ leadership PACs, fundraising accounts that can accept unlimited contributions.
While leadership PACs have been around for years, they’re raising more money than ever before. And some of them are attracting individual contributions of more than $30,000.
Usually, officeholders in powerful positions or those campaigning for high-ranking jobs are able to raise the most 
money for their PACs. They use the money to fund like-minded candidates who can support their bids for leadership positions or to invest in races that are key to their party’s chances of winning a legislative majority.
While there are limits on what donors can give candidates for their own campaigns, officeholders at the state level in Michigan can raise unlimited amounts through their PACs and then spread the wealth around.
Since the start of 2017, the officeholders who’ve raised the most money through leadership PACs include a candidate for leader of the House Republicans, a candidate for leader of the Senate Republicans, the current Senate GOP leader and Gov. Rick Snyder.
The top PAC fundraiser, House Speaker Pro Tem Lee Chatfield, a Republican from Levering, has raised $750,605 and given more than $455,550 to GOP candidates and causes since the start of 2017, according to campaign finance disclosures.
The 10 most active leadership PACs in Michigan have combined to raise $3.5 million from Jan. 1, 2017, through July 20, 2018. Among them are eight individual leadership PACs that have raised more than $200,000 each.
Over the same period before the 2016 election, only four leadership PACs had raised more than $200,000 each. Over the same period before the 2014 election, only one leadership PAC had raised more than $200,000.
You research the top donors to all state officeholders who have leadership PACs here.
The following is a list of the 10 officeholders who have raised the most money through their PACs since the start of 2017 and where the money has come from.
Officeholder: Rep. Lee Chatfield, Republican from Levering
Position: He is the current House speaker pro tem and is expected to be the next House speaker if Republicans maintain their majority.
PACs: Chatfield Majority Fund, Chatfield Majority Fund II
Amount raised: $750,605
Top PAC donors:
1) DeVos family, Amway, $50,000
2) Ron Weiser, McKinley Associates, $50,000
3) Michigan Chamber of Commerce PAC, $30,000
4) Jon Cotton, Meridian Health Plan, $30,000
5) Matthew Moroun, Central Transport, $30,000
6) John Kennedy, Autocam, $30,000
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Officeholder: Sen. Mike Shirkey, Republican from Clarklake
Position: He is a member of the state Senate who will likely be the next Senate majority leader if Republicans maintain their majority.
PAC: Compete Michigan
Amount raised: $646,716
Top PAC donors:
1. Nancy and John Kennedy, Autocam, $120,000
2. DeVos family, Amway, $50,000
3. Mike Shirkey for Senate, candidate committee, $44,466
4. Jon Cotton, Meridian Health, $25,000
5. Mike Shirkey, $23,174
Officeholder: Sen. Arlan Meekhof, Republican from West Olive
Position: He is the current Senate majority leader.
PACs: Moving Michigan Forward I, Moving Michigan Forward II, Meekhof Senate PAC
Amount raised: $625,383
Top donors to his PACs:
1. Business Leaders for Michigan, $50,000
2. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, $22,500
3. DeVos family, Amway, $20,000
4. Senate Majority 2018 PAC, $20,000
5. Michigan Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association, $17,100
Officeholder: Gov. Rick Snyder, Republican
Position: He is the top state official in Michigan.
PAC: Relentless Positive Action
Amount raised: $575,228
Top donors to his PAC:
1. Roger Penske, Penske Corporation, $250,000
2. William Parfet, Northwood Group, $100,000
3. Terry and Jennifer Adderley, retired, $50,000
4. James Nicholson, PVS Chemicals, $50,000
5. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan PAC, $27,500
Officeholder: Rep. Tom Leonard, Republican from DeWitt
Position: He is the speaker of the state House and a candidate for attorney general.
PAC: Michigan Values Leadership Fund, Michigan Values Leadership Fund II
Amount raised: $438,900
Top donors to his PACS:
1. Business Leaders for Michigan, $50,000
2. John Kennedy, Autocam, $30,000
3. Spencer Partrich, New England Management & Realty, $30,000
4. Mickey Shapiro, real estate, $30,000
5. Secchia family, $30,000
Officeholder: Mayor Mike Duggan, Democrat
Position: He is the mayor of Detroit.
PAC: Duggan Leadership Fund
Amount raised: $241,812
Top donors to his PAC:
1. Bernstein Family PAC, $10,000
2. Blue Cross Blue Shield PAC, $10,000
3. John Levy, Base Tactical Disaster, $10,000
4. Mohammad Qazi, Ciena Healthcare Management, $10,000
5. Linden Nelson, Nelson Ventures, $10,000
6. Erica Gerson, Bloomfield Hills, $10,000
7. Miller Canfield PAC, $10,000
8. Nazmul Haque, physician, $10,000
9. Floyd Allen, attorney, $10,000
10. Matthew Lester, Princeton Enterprises, $10,000
11. Arn Tellem, Pistons, $10,000
Officeholder: Sen. Jim Stamas, Republican from Midland
Position: He is the assistant majority floor leader and is expected to be part of the future Senate GOP leadership team.
PAC: Stamas Leadership PAC
Amount raised: $241,012
Top donors to his PAC:
1. Jim Stamas for State Senate, candidate committee, $40,000
2. J.W. Fisher, Fisher Property, $15,000
3. David Kepler II, Dow Chemical Company, $10,000
4. Michigan Bankers Association, $5,000
5. Meijer PAC, $5,000
Officeholder: Rep. Sam Singh, Democrat from East Lansing
Position: As House minority leader, he is the highest ranking Democrat in the state House.
PACs: Singh for Michigan, Singh Majority Fund
Amount raised: $196,741
Top donors to his PACs:
1. Operating Engineers Local 324, $22,500
2. United Auto Workers Voluntary PAC, $15,000
3. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, $10,500
4. Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters, $8,000
5. Michigan Association for Justice, Justice PAC, $7,500
Officeholder: Sen. Jim Ananich, Democrat from Flint
Position: As Senate minority leader, he is the highest ranking Democrat in the state Senate.
PACs: Ananich Future Fund, Ananich Senate Majority Fund
Amount raised: $185,136
Top donors to his PACs:
1. United Auto Workers Voluntary PAC, $40,000
2. Operating Engineers Local 324, $12,500
3. Michigan Chamber of Commerce PAC, $10,000
4. Business Leaders for Michigan, $9,000
5. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, $8,500
Officeholder: Sen. Peter MacGregor, Republican from Rockford
Position: He is the vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
PAC: MAC PAC
Amount raised: $144,925
Top donors to his PAC:
1. DeVos family, Amway, $25,000
2. Michael Jandernoa, 42 North Partners, $10,000
3. John Kennedy, Autocam Medical, $10,000
4. Van Andel family, Amway, $5,000
5. Chaldean Chamber PAC, $4,500