Press Room: Michigan Campaign Finance Network

Michigan Campaign Finance Network Coverage

12/30/2020 - How Senior House Staff Blended Politics And Policy With Lucrative Results
12/30/2020 - 2020's Ten Most Expensive MI House Races
12/02/2020 - Big Money Fueled Michigan’s Mountain of Political Mail
11/03/2020 - In Broadcast Ads Alone This Election Has Outspent 2018
11/03/2020 - In The Most Expensive House Election Of All Time, PACs Still Reign Supreme
10/21/2020 - Michigan’s $47 Million Week
10/16/2020 - Campaigns Are Leaving The Invitation For Outside Help Wide Open
10/01/2020 - Senate Election Projected To Exceed $100 Million
09/25/2020 - The Advertising Onslaught Is Just Beginning
09/16/2020 - While Lobbyist Lunches Are Way Down, Big Tabs Stay Up
09/14/2020 - Is Your Mailbox Full Of Political Mail? Send It To Us.
08/31/2020 - News Or Ads? Liberal Sites in Michigan Spend Big to Hype Slotkin, Democrats
08/04/2020 - Explore Funding And Spending in Michigan's House Primary
07/06/2020 - Michigan’s Largest Police Unions Contribute Widely: Here Is Where Their Money Went
05/15/2020 - How Out-Of-State Nonprofits Are Marketing An Ecosystem Of Conservative Content To Michiganders
05/10/2020 - The Post-Primary Election Season Has Already Produced $45 million In TV Spending
03/18/2020 - Facebook was a Dark Money Battleground in Michigan’s Primary
01/31/2020 - A Nonprofit with Unknown Funding is Spending $750,000 to Promote Whitmer’s Road Plan
01/17/2020 - Billionaires and Dark Money Are Dominating Ad Spending In The 2020 Cycle
11/25/2019 - MCFN Announces New Executive Director
09/30/2019 - The Story Behind The Photo: How A U.S. Scientist Unknowingly Starred In An Enbridge Ad Campaign
09/24/2019 - Fundraisers Ask For ‘Corporate Contributions Only’
09/11/2019 - Record Amounts Of Free Food For Some Lawmakers
09/09/2019 - Campaign Finance Disclosures Show How Partisan The Fight Over Abortion Has Become In Michigan
09/06/2019 - How A County-By-County Push Is Boosting Line 5
09/05/2019 - Lobbyist Spending Soars In Michigan In 2019
09/04/2019 - A Company, A Bill And The Opioid Crisis
08/22/2019 - PACs Powering Lawmakers’ Fundraising In 2019
08/16/2019 - Term-Limited Lawmakers’ Campaigns Have Made Some Big Purchases On Their Way Out Of Lansing
08/05/2019 - Fundraising Races On After Record Election
07/29/2019 - Which Michigan Lawmakers Have Been Raising The Most Money And Where Is It Coming From?
07/22/2019 - Undisclosed, Untold: Most State Lawmakers Have Ties To Accounts That Can Raise Money In Secret
07/16/2019 - U.S. House Members Post Big Fundraising Numbers
07/09/2019 - State Lawmakers’ Fundraising Accounts Have Paid More Than $100,000 For Missing Disclosure Deadlines
06/20/2019 - While They Make Our Laws, How Much Should We Know About Their Financial Interests?
06/17/2019 - Michigan Groups Amassed $1.5 Million In Unresolved Campaign Finance Fees. We Examined Them.
06/05/2019 - A Top Lawmaker-Turned-Consultant Sent A Message. It Caught The Attention Of Officials, Emails Show.
05/30/2019 - Inside One Of The Most Influential Groups In Lansing
05/29/2019 - Who Funded An Overhaul Of Pollution Cleanup Standards? The Lawyer Who Spearheaded It Won't Say.
05/17/2019 - Road To Auto Insurance Overhaul In Michigan Lined With Donors Who Funded Lawmakers’ Campaigns
05/09/2019 - Michigan's 2018 Election Attracted $324 Million
05/03/2019 - How A Court Decision 36 Years Ago Today Still Shines Light On Power And Influence In Lansing
04/30/2019 - It’s Early. But Groups Have Been Busy Raising Money.
04/30/2019 - Who’s Been Funding Lawmakers’ Personal PACs?
04/25/2019 - State Officeholders Had 774 Fundraisers In 2018
04/16/2019 - Michigan’s U.S. House Members Combined To Raise $3.2 Million Over The First Three Months of 2019
04/11/2019 - The 2018 State Supreme Court Race Was An Oddity. Here’s Why It May Have Played Out That Way.
04/11/2019 - A $40-Million Michigan Election That Was Inexpensive In Comparison To Races In Other States
04/04/2019 - Late-Night Lawmaking. A Conference In New Orleans. And A Proposal To Ease Casino Regulations.
03/28/2019 - Cost Of Michigan House Campaigns Rises … Again
03/21/2019 - The Most Expensive Fight For The State Senate
03/12/2019 - Some Lawmakers Are Pushing To End The State's Ban On Campaign Giving By Donors Tied To Casinos
03/11/2019 - Donors, Dollars And Dark Money: How $93 Million Poured Into The 2018 Campaign For Governor
03/11/2019 - In The Race To Be Michigan’s Attorney General, Outside Groups Spent More Than The Candidates
03/11/2019 - National Voting Rights Group Spent Nearly $1 Million On Michigan’s 2018 Race For Secretary of State
03/07/2019 - How Loopholes Allow Michigan Political Party Funds To Pour Anonymous Dollars Into State Elections
02/28/2019 - 27 State Lawmakers Received At Least $1,000 In Free Food And Drink In 2018, Disclosures Show
02/27/2019 - Lame Duck Spurred A Surge In Lobbyist Spending
02/21/2019 - 40 Michigan Families, $56 Million In Contributions
02/21/2019 - Who Benefited From $11 Million In DeVos Spending?
02/11/2019 - Who Funded Gov. Whitmer’s Inauguration?
02/08/2019 - Michigan's PACs Saw A Record Jump In Fundraising For The 2018 Election, Collecting $97 Million
01/31/2019 - Ballot Proposal Campaigns Disclose Their Funders, But 2018 Shows How Little We Actually Know
01/24/2019 - How Money From Big Donors And Super PACs Made Its Way Into Michigan’s 2018 U.S. House Races
01/22/2019 - Michigan’s 2018 Races For The U.S. House Attracted $80 Million, About Double The 2016 Total
01/15/2019 - Which Interest Groups Rank Among The Top Contributors To The Most Michigan Lawmakers?
01/09/2019 - Outside Groups, Not Candidate Campaigns, Were Behind The Wide Majority Of Attack Ads Last Fall
12/21/2018 - In Lame-Duck Environmental Fights, Campaign Donors Notched Victories, According To Disclosures
12/12/2018 - Who Funded Schuette And Whitmer’s Campaigns?
12/10/2018 - Analysis: Bills Would Give Michigan’s Political Parties Unique Influence Over Campaign Finance Enforcement
12/10/2018 - Outside Groups’ Spending More Than Doubled Candidates’ Spending In Governor’s Race This Fall
12/04/2018 - Groups Pushing To Gut Wage, Sick Leave Laws Spent $1.1M To Support Current Lawmakers This Year
11/28/2018 - Analysis: How A New Proposal On Nonprofit Groups Impacts Dark Money In Michigan Politics
11/20/2018 - Early Numbers: Candidates With The Most Money Won Nearly 90% Of The Races For The Legislature
11/16/2018 - Funded By Anonymous Donors, Nonprofit Groups Poured Millions Of Dollars Into State Senate Races
11/13/2018 - A Record-Breaking Year: Yes, Michigan’s 2018 Elections Were The Most Expensive In State History
11/06/2018 - Some Donors Can Rest Easier On Election Day After Supporting Competing Candidates In Key Races
11/05/2018 - In The 2018 Fight For Control Of Lansing, These Races Have Been Attracting The Most Campaign Cash
10/31/2018 - Michigan’s PACs Raise A Record Amount Of Money
10/26/2018 - $75 Million Thrown Into Michigan Governor’s Race. Here’s Who’s Spending To Influence Voters.
10/26/2018 - Redistricting Ballot Proposal Draws The Most Money
10/26/2018 - Key Groups In Races For The State Legislature Have Raised A Record Amount, Are Spending Millions
10/25/2018 - Updated Numbers: Nearly $9 Million In TV Ads Target Races For The Michigan Legislature This Fall
10/22/2018 - Here’s How We’ve Tracked $61 Million In Michigan’s 2018 Race For Governor With More To Come
10/16/2018 - Records Fall As Money Pours Into U.S. House Races
10/12/2018 - In The Fight For Control Of The State Legislature, Campaign Ads Show Spotlight On Southeast Michigan
10/04/2018 - Two Of Michigan's 2018 U.S. House Races Could Be The Most Expensive The State Has Seen In Years
10/01/2018 - Michigan Lawmakers Push ‘Popular Vote’ Proposals After Seminars In Vacation Spots Like Hawaii
09/21/2018 - Lobbyist Spending On Near-Record Pace In Michigan
09/18/2018 - The Free Food Flows: Which Michigan Lawmakers Have Received The Most Free Meals In 2018?
09/14/2018 - Fights For Open Michigan Senate Seats Dominate List Of Most Expensive Primary Races For Legislature
09/07/2018 - Money In The Race For Governor So Far: $50 Million
09/04/2018 - When Lobbyists Aren’t ‘Lobbying’: Groups Disclose Only A Fraction Of What They’re Paying Lobbyists
09/04/2018 - National Groups Airing Ads In Race For Governor
08/22/2018 - 15 Michigan Families, $35 Million In Contributions
08/22/2018 - They’re Running For AG, Secretary Of State And Supreme Court. Who’s Been Backing Them?
08/14/2018 - Big Money Flowing To Officeholders’ Leadership PACs: Here’s Who’s Giving And Raising The Most
08/07/2018 - Broadcast TV Ads Before The Primary: $23 Million
08/06/2018 - Michigan PACs Are On A Record Fundraising Pace
08/01/2018 - Nonprofit Organization Becoming A ‘Dominant Player’ In Some Michigan Primary Campaigns
07/27/2018 - Michigan’s 2018 Race For Governor Has Already Drawn About $42 Million With More To Come
07/26/2018 - Powered By Big Contributions, Outside Groups Making A Mark On The 2018 Race For Governor
07/26/2018 - Batch Of Financial Disclosures Provides Details That Usually Remain Secret In Michigan
07/17/2018 - Michigan’s 2018 U.S. House Races Shaping Up To Be More Expensive Than Recent Versions
07/11/2018 - Emails Cast Doubt About The State Of Michigan’s Ties To Enbridge In Line 5 Debate
07/09/2018 - Primary Races Are Heating Up As $8.3 Million In Political Ads Have Now Aired On Broadcast TV
07/09/2018 - Where Is The Money Coming From In Michigan's 2018 Race For The U.S. Senate?
06/27/2018 - How Under-The-Radar Campaigns Backed By The Same Company Tried To Shape Detroit's City Council
06/15/2018 - In Fight Over Prevailing Wage, Most Lawmakers Agreed With Their Campaign Contributors
06/08/2018 - Michigan Justices Backed By Opponents Of Redistricting Proposal May Decide Its Fate
06/06/2018 - With Five Months To Go, More Than $4 Million In Political TV Ads Have Aired In Michigan
05/25/2018 - State Senators Can Go To Receptions Offering Free Food Inside Their Own Office Building
05/22/2018 - Donors Betting Big On GOP Leadership Candidates
05/10/2018 - ‘It Will Send A Message’: Secret Donors Are Funding Some Of 2018's Early State Senate Ads
05/10/2018 - With Six Months Remaining Before Election Day, Undisclosed Spending Has Exceeded $1 Million
05/04/2018 - Michigan’s Largest PACs Are Awash In Cash
04/30/2018 - How Can Groups Sponsor Trips For Michigan Lawmakers And Not Disclose Them? Here’s How.
04/27/2018 - In Races For The State Legislature, Key Campaign Spenders Have A Record Amount Of Money Waiting
04/27/2018 - Seven Ballot Proposal Campaigns Have Already Reached The $1-Million Fundraising Mark
04/20/2018 - PACs With Connections To Lt. Gov. Calley Have Bought Up Ad Time To Support Him
04/17/2018 - U.S. House Hopefuls Have Raised $22 Million
04/12/2018 - Special Project: A Vote That Tests Who Has Power Within The Michigan Democratic Party
04/12/2018 - Special Project: A Precinct-By-Precinct Fight For The Soul Of The Michigan Republican Party
04/02/2018 - Report: Special Interests Gave More Than Half The Funds Raised By Michigan Lawmakers
03/29/2018 - An Estimated $1.7 Million In Political Ads Have Already Aired On Broadcast TV So Far This Year
03/26/2018 - In Search Of Cash: State Officeholders Reported Having 601 Fundraisers Last Year
03/16/2018 - What Are Leadership PACs And Why Are They Becoming Bigger Players In Michigan Politics?
03/02/2018 - 30 Lawmakers Got At Least $1,000 In Lobbyist-Funded Food And Drink Last Year, According To Filings
03/02/2018 - Michigan Lobbyists Spent $39.4 Million Last Year
02/27/2018 - On University Boards, Campaign Donors Abound
02/19/2018 - Groups That Hope To Sway Voters And Lawmakers Are Collecting A Record Amount Of Money
02/13/2018 - U.S. House Candidates In Michigan Combined To Raise More Than $14 Million By The End Of 2017
02/07/2018 - About 318 Donors Have Already Given The Maximum Amount To At Least One Candidate For Governor
02/07/2018 - Some Michigan State Senate Races Have Already Attracted More Than $300,000
01/31/2018 - Groups That Will Fight For Control Of The Legislature Have A Record Amount Of Money Stockpiled
01/31/2018 - Hoping To Get Their Proposals Into Law, Ballot Committees Have Gathered More Than $7 Million
01/23/2018 - How Expensive Could The 2018 Election Really Be? Here Are 10 Graphs On Trends To Watch
01/18/2018 - ‘Looking For Legislation To Sponsor’: How Lobbyists Help Write Bills Introduced By Michigan Lawmakers
01/18/2018 - Filing: Nonprofit Connected To Gov. Rick Snyder Spent $1.7 Million During 2016
01/02/2018 - 3 Mayoral Races, 3 Stories Of Outside Money
12/15/2017 - A Super PAC Tripled The Candidates’ Spending In A City Council Race. Its Preferred Candidate Won.
12/15/2017 - State Parties Were Among The Top Spenders In State House Special Election This Fall
12/08/2017 - Lawmakers Have Taken Millions From Groups Fighting Over This Issue. Now, They May Have To Weigh In.
11/14/2017 - Get Ready: Michigan’s Top PACs Are On A Record Fundraising Pace
11/07/2017 - Which Current State Officeholders Have Been Raising The Most Money So Far In 2017?
10/31/2017 - In The Race To Be Mayor Of Detroit, One Candidate Has A Big Money Advantage
10/31/2017 - The State's Major Election Spenders Are Collecting More Money Than They Did In Past Cycles
10/26/2017 - Focused On Gathering Signatures, 3 Ballot Campaigns Have Gathered More Than $1 Million In Support
10/26/2017 - Candidates For Governor Stockpiling Cash And Breaking New Ground For Early Fundraising
10/25/2017 - Inside Michigan’s Push To Regulate Medical Marijuana
10/23/2017 - How Short Surveys, Orange Postcards And Dark Money Help Shape The Fight Over Guns In Michigan
10/17/2017 - Four Of Michigan's U.S. House Districts Are Already Attracting Big Money, According To New Disclosures
10/02/2017 - Big Campaign Donors Are Entrenched In The Fight Over Michigan's Auto Insurance Rates
09/20/2017 - Updated: Gov. Snyder Signs Super PAC Bill
09/18/2017 - 16 Lawmakers Have Received More Than $1,000 In Free Food And Drink So Far In 2017, Filings Show
09/11/2017 - Lobbyist Spending In Michigan Stays On Record Pace
09/11/2017 - Amid Push For Tax Incentives, Quicken Loans Boosted Lobbying Efforts, According To Disclosures
08/31/2017 - Lawyer Who Worked For Major Firm Says Some Judicial Campaign Donors Give As An ‘Investment’
08/09/2017 - Michigan’s Top Political Action Committees Increase Fundraising Ahead Of The 2018 Election
08/03/2017 - 15 State Officeholders, $4 Million In Contributions
08/01/2017 - Three Ballot Proposal Campaigns Have Already Collected More Than $800K In Resources Each
07/25/2017 - Announced and Potential Candidates For Governor Have Raised $7 Million In 2017
07/25/2017 - Top Spenders In Races For The Legislature Are Raising More Money Than In Past Years
07/21/2017 - Groups That Don’t Disclose Their Donors Helping Fund Ballot Proposal Campaigns
07/18/2017 - Michigan Lobbyists Have Made $3.7 Million In Political Contributions Since The Start Of 2012
07/17/2017 - With The Election A Year Away, Money Is Flowing To Michigan’s U.S. House Hopefuls
06/19/2017 - How 40 Michigan Families Made $44 Million In Political Contributions Last Cycle
05/31/2017 - During Business Groups’ Push For Tax Incentives, Campaign Checks Arrive
05/01/2017 - Health Plans, Big Campaign Donors, Press Lawmakers For More Control Of Mental Health Services
05/01/2017 - Top Election Spenders Are Starting Early On Raising Big Money For The 2018 Election
04/24/2017 - The Political Fight Over When School Should Start
04/11/2017 - Democrat, Republican Working Together On Bills To Combat Michigan’s Revolving Door
04/05/2017 - Races For Michigan's 14 Seats In The U.S. House Attracted About $40 Million Last Cycle
03/31/2017 - After Big Wins In ’16, House Republicans Are Finding Inconsistencies In Reports Of Fundraising Operation
03/27/2017 - Michigan Lawmakers Disclosed Having More Than 400 Fundraisers Last Year
03/16/2017 - Secret Donors And Interest Groups Continue To Dominate Races For Michigan’s Highest Court
03/08/2017 - At Least 25 State Lawmakers Received More Than $1,000 In Free Meals From Lobbyists Last Year
03/03/2017 - 2016: Another Record Year For Lobbying In Lansing
02/27/2017 - How Millions Of Dollars In Dark Money Helped Shape Michigan’s 2016 Elections
02/27/2017 - Races For University Board Slots Were Close, But Candidates’ Fundraising Hauls Weren’t
02/15/2017 - $48 Million: Michigan’s Top PACs Easily Raised More For 2016 Than For Past Presidential Election Cycles
02/10/2017 - Let The Money Flow: 2016's Races For The Michigan House Are The Most Expensive On Record
02/08/2017 - One Trade Association Is Among The Top Donors To Nearly 2 Out Of Every 3 Michigan Lawmakers
02/02/2017 - Fund Tied To New House Insurance Chair’s Husband Received $80k From Insurance Industry Group
01/27/2017 - DeVos Family Has Made At Least $82 Million In Political Contributions Since 1999, According To Campaign Finance Disclosures
01/23/2017 - According to The Numbers, It Pays To Work On Health Care Laws In Michigan
01/17/2017 - In Michigan, The Jump From Lawmaker To Lobbyist Is Usually A Quick One
01/16/2017 - State Representative Who Sponsored A Pro-Uber Amendment Drove For Uber On The Side
01/06/2017 - Some Potential Candidates For Governor Are Sitting On Stockpiles Of Campaign Cash
01/04/2017 - A Boom Truck, A Campaign Sign And A Question Of Corporate Influence
12/27/2016 - Groups Seeking Tax Incentives In Lame Duck Had Given Thousands To Senators Who Voted For Them
12/16/2016 - The $3-Million Race For A Job That Pays $130,034
12/13/2016 - Nearly Half Of The Money Behind Michigan’s Top Independent Spenders Flowed From 12 Sources
12/02/2016 - DeVos Family Made $14 Million In Political Contributions In The Last Two Years Alone
11/23/2016 - Snyder-Linked Nonprofit Raised $2.24 Million Last Year
11/22/2016 - Early Numbers: The Candidates With The Most Money On Their Sides Won 91% of Michigan House Seats
11/09/2016 - After More Than 15,000 TV Ads, Republicans’ State House Majority Holds
11/08/2016 - Presidential Campaigns Spent Nearly $3M On TV Ads In Michigan In The Last Week
11/08/2016 - Nonprofit Labels Detroit Ballot Proposal ‘Awful' But Avoids Disclosing Its Donors
11/03/2016 - GOP Michigan Supreme Court Nominees Have A $2.8-Million Money Advantage
11/02/2016 - The 15 Most Expensive Races For The Michigan House Have Drawn More Than $10 Million
10/31/2016 - An Anonymous Group Is Sending Out Mailers Touting Libertarian Candidates In 2 Key State House Races
10/28/2016 - $43 Million: State PACs Remain On Record Fundraising Pace For A Presidential Cycle
10/27/2016 - Bridge and MCFN Joint Investigation: In Lansing, Where Potentially Self-Serving Votes Run ‘Rampant’
10/26/2016 - Spending On TV Ads In State House Races Blows By The $1-Million Mark
10/25/2016 - Secretive Funds Parrot Republican Attacks In Key Michigan House Races
10/17/2016 - Familiar Names In Michigan Politics Helped Fund Stealthy Super PACs That Went On Attack In House Primary
10/17/2016 - 2 Michigan Congressional Races Have Already Crossed The $4-Million Mark
10/14/2016 - Nonprofit Tied To Gov. Rick Snyder Ran About $266k In TV Ads This Fall
10/12/2016 - MLive and MCFN Joint Investigation: Secretive Funds Allow Michigan Lawmakers To Accept Corporate Cash
10/07/2016 - Michigan’s Congressional Races Have Already Spurred $3 Million In Ads This Fall
10/05/2016 - Michigan’s Auto Dealers Have Given $1 Million To State Officeholders And Their Caucuses
09/30/2016 - The Money And Mystery Surrounding Michigan’s New Medical Marijuana Laws
09/21/2016 - Relentless Positive Growth For Lobbyists: Once Again, Lobbyist Spending Is On A Record Pace In Michigan
09/21/2016 - Which Lawmakers Have Received The Most Free Meals So Far In 2016?
09/21/2016 - Tesla Spent At Least $6,249 On Travel And Lodging For Michigan Lawmakers Earlier This Year
09/15/2016 - Big Money At Work In Race For County Public Works Commissioner
09/14/2016 - TV Ad Watch: Donald Trump Aired About $654k In Ads In Michigan
09/07/2016 - The 10 Michigan House Races Drawing The Most Campaign Cash So Far And Where It's Coming From
08/31/2016 - Attorney Says He's 'Proud' Of Giving $200,000 To A Super PAC That Tried To Unseat A County Sheriff
08/30/2016 - Paper Or Plastic? In The Debate Over Local Plastic Bag Laws, One Side Has Been A Far Bigger Campaign Donor
08/18/2016 - Touting A 'Looming Energy Shortfall,' Utility-Connected Nonprofit Spent $7.4 Million Last Year
08/16/2016 - PAC $ Rankings: Michigan's Top Interest Groups Raising More Cash Than They Did In Past Prez Election Years
08/12/2016 - Early Numbers: The Top Fundraiser Won 70 Percent Of Contested Michigan House Primary Races
08/05/2016 - How Secret Donors Tried To Shape Michigan's Next House GOP Caucus
08/01/2016 - The Dark Money Flows In Days Before Michigan's Primary Election
07/29/2016 - 56 State House Candidates Say The Role Of Money In Politics Deserves The Legislature's Attention
07/28/2016 - DeVos Family Has Made $1.4 Million In Political Contributions In 2 Months Before Aug. 2 Primary
07/28/2016 - Which Candidates Are Benefiting From Donations To Key Lawmakers' PACs?
07/25/2016 - The 16 House Races Drawing The Most Cash In 2016 And Where It's Coming From
07/20/2016 - Biggest Game In Town: How More Than 100 Lobbyists Have Tried To Sway The State's Energy Overhaul
07/18/2016 - Congressional Candidates Opened Their Own Wallets $1-Million Wide For Their Campaigns Last Quarter
07/07/2016 - New Tool For Tracking The Flow Of Money To Lawmakers Debuts
06/15/2016 - National Group Files Complaint Against Dark Money Michigan Nonprofit
06/09/2016 - With Questionable Results, Ballot Campaigns Have Spent $3.5 Million
06/08/2016 - Former Lawmaker Urges AG, SOS To Review State Of The City Event That Doubled As PAC Fundraiser
06/02/2016 - One Michigan Congressional Candidate Has Already Spent $94k On TV Ads
05/27/2016 - Michigan's Biggest PACs Set Record Pace For Presidential Election Year
05/26/2016 - Group Of Lawmakers Says Special Interests Have Too Much Influence, Proposes Limiting PAC Giving
05/20/2016 - A State Of The City Address That Entangles Public Resources, Fundraising And An Endorsement
05/12/2016 - Big Donors Have Been Big Players In Fight Over Detroit Public Schools Turnaround
05/09/2016 - Michigan House Member Aims To Boost Timeliness Of Lobbyist Reports
05/04/2016 - See Who's Been Funding Key Lawmakers' Political Operations So Far This Year
04/28/2016 - Collecting Dough: How State Lawmakers Mix Fundraising, Legislating; And Sometimes Do Both
04/22/2016 - Who's Helping Fund Gov. Snyder's Response In Flint? The Answer Is Clouded
04/20/2016 - Dark Money Hits Township Level As Nonprofit Goes On Attack In Plymouth
04/18/2016 - 5 Michigan Congressional Races Drew More Than $500,000 In The Last 3 Months
04/14/2016 - If Money Talks, Support Loudest Among Cruz's Michigan Delegates
03/28/2016 - Michigan Donors Have Given More Than $5 Million To Super PACs Playing In Presidential Race So Far
03/22/2016 - Many Lawmakers Have Taken Thousands In Campaign Cash From Those Seeking To Influence Detroit Education Plan
03/16/2016 - Presidential Campaigns Aired More Than $10.6 Million In TV Ads In Michigan
03/08/2016 - UPDATE: TV Ad Spending Has Surpassed $8M In Michigan, Buying Surged Last Week
03/07/2016 - How A Storefront In Grandville Connects To Big Money Flowing Into Presidential Race
03/03/2016 - After Ad Missteps, Dark Money Group Agrees To Pay $17,696 Fine
03/02/2016 - Update: Sanders, Clinton Have Combined For $2.2M In Ads
03/01/2016 - State Tells Dark Money Group That Violated Law To Pretend Super PAC Existed
02/24/2016 - Early On, Sanders Is Outspending Clinton On Michigan TV Ads
02/22/2016 - Michigan Donors To Super PACs Nearly Matched Michigan Donors To Candidates In January
02/18/2016 - Spending On Lobbying Hit Record High In 2015
02/17/2016 - Michigan Lawmakers Got More Free Lunches In 2015
02/16/2016 - Data Center Company Registered As A Lobbyist The Same Day Data Center Bills Were Introduced
02/15/2016 - Gov. Snyder Went On Most Expensive Lobbyist-Paid Trip Of 2015
02/12/2016 - Presidential Ad Battle Poised To Hit Michigan Next Week
02/11/2016 - The $4-Million Push To Influence Michigan Energy Law
02/09/2016 - PACs Raised More Than $22 Million During 2015
02/04/2016 - Campaign Legal Center: Senate Super PAC Bill Goes 'Well Beyond' Citizens United
02/04/2016 - Ballot Proposal Update: Ann Arbor Man Has Given $250K To Campaign To Legalize Marijuana
02/03/2016 - Term-Limited Schuette, Calley Were Top Fundraisers Among Candidates In Last Months Of 2015
02/02/2016 - Max Donors Boosted Fight To Win State House By $920,000 In 2015
02/01/2016 - Bush, Clinton Lead Competitors In Fundraising From Michigan
01/29/2016 - Doubling Contribution Limits Added At Least $6.3M To Michigan Elections In '14
01/22/2016 - Viewpoint: Michigan earns 'F' for transparency, while legislature helps it stay there
01/21/2016 - Citizens United v. FEC: Six Years Later
01/18/2016 - Michigan Campaign Finance Network Announces New Executive Director
12/17/2015 - Reporting schedule fails to require timely reporting of independent expenditures
11/16/2015 - Citizen's Guide 2014: Independents spenders swamped candidates
11/09/2015 - MCFN seeks executive director
11/09/2015 - Michigan's failed system of accountablity
11/08/2015 - Electricity interests have given officeholders $500K
10/28/2015 - Top state PACs have raised $14.9M thru October 2015
09/22/2015 - Lobbyists spend $21M - disclosure is poor
07/27/2015 - Legislators have raised $2.1M in eight months
06/24/2015 - Dark Money and Justice: Michigan is like no other state.
04/27/2015 - Proponents of Proposal 1 have a wide financial advantage over opponents
02/23/2015 - Record $68M fundraising by top PACs in 2014 cycle
02/17/2015 - State lobbyists' spending topped $37M in 2014
12/10/2014 - Constitutional executives' campaigns: $72.3M
12/10/2014 - Michigan's 2014 legislator campaigns: $44.3M
12/10/2014 - Michigan's 2014 Supreme Court Campaign: $10.4M
11/19/2014 - Gubernatorial air war: $47.6 million
11/12/2014 - Dark money dominated Supreme Court, AG TV campaigns
10/28/2014 - PACs on record fundraising pace
10/26/2014 - State candidates' campaign finances - two weeks out
10/20/2014 - Supreme Court candidates on accountability for political advertising
10/16/2014 - Michigan Congressional Candidates Have Raised $26.45M
10/16/2014 - Top Michigan Donors to RGA, DGA
10/10/2014 - $600K MI GOP Supreme Court Ad: Is it Dark Money?
10/03/2014 - MI Senate air war: $32.3 million - and counting
10/01/2014 - Gubernatorial air war: $19.2M - and counting
09/26/2014 - Lobbying: Spending up, disclosure poor
09/23/2014 - AG, SoS, MSC incumbents hold campaign finance advantage over challengers
09/09/2014 - Legislative candidates have raised $22.9 million
09/03/2014 - Independent spenders dominate Senate, gubernatorial campaigns
08/15/2014 - Donors behind the statewide candidates
07/28/2014 - Legislative candidates have raised $20.3 million
07/28/2014 - PAC fundraising on record pace
07/16/2014 - MI candidates for U.S. House raised $7M in 2Q 2014
07/01/2014 - Independents dominate TV spending in statewide campaigns
06/27/2014 - Democracy Deformed
05/27/2014 - Independent spenders dominating senatorial, gubernatorial campaigns
05/16/2014 - Where's the ethics platform?
04/28/2014 - Top PACs' fundraising up by 44%
04/16/2014 - Proxies dominate Q1 2014 Michigan TV campaigns
04/11/2014 - McCuthcheon JFC: A new weapon of political warfare
04/02/2014 - McCutcheon ruling is another blow to democracy
03/26/2014 - Election Reform Conference - Friday, April 4th in Ann Arbor
02/19/2014 - Top state PACs have raised $22.2M so far this cycle
02/11/2014 - Lansing lobbyists spent $35.4M in 2013
02/03/2014 - Constitutional execs raised $7M in 2013
02/03/2014 - Legislators raised $6.8M in 2013
02/03/2014 - Congressional candidates raised $14.4M in 2013
12/27/2013 - MCFN statement on Governor signing SB 661
12/12/2013 - A defining moment for Governor Snyder
11/14/2013 - Michigan Senate: Just let money have its way in politics
10/26/2013 - Top 150 PACs have raised $16.7M so far this cycle
10/23/2013 - MI U.S. Reps raised $3.6M in 3rd Quarter of 2013
09/30/2013 - MCFN supports SBM request for declaratory ruling
09/18/2013 - Lobbying expenditures comparable to record pace of 2012
07/29/2013 - Top 150 state PACs have raised $9.5M
07/17/2013 - MI U.S. Reps raised $4.5M in 2nd Quarter of 2013
06/25/2013 - Record spending, diminishing accountability in 2012 Michigan state campaigns
04/17/2013 - Michigan U.S. Reps Raised $2.2M in 1st Quarter 2013
03/01/2013 - Lobbyists' spending hit record $37.1M in 2012
02/21/2013 - 2012 Supreme Court race was state's most expensive, least transparent ever
12/14/2012 - MI ballot committees raised $154.3 million in Campaign 2012
11/09/2012 - Dark money and justice
10/31/2012 - Outside groups outspending candidates 2:1 in1st Congressional
10/31/2012 - Michigan House candidates raised $13M by pre-general reports
10/29/2012 - America's most expensive, most secretive judicial election
10/28/2012 - Ballot committees have raised $141 M
10/26/2012 - Top 150 state PACs have raised $34.7M
10/16/2012 - Michigan's U.S. House candidates have raised $26.1M
10/11/2012 - Ballot committees' TV ad bill: $30M
10/09/2012 - Supreme Court race well-funded for final month
10/08/2012 - Michigan advertising one-sided for Senate, Presidential Races
09/13/2012 - Lansing lobbyists' spending on record pace
09/06/2012 - Michigan presidential air war: $10.9M - $0
08/30/2012 - Incumbent Supreme Court justices have pre-convention campaign finance advantage
08/02/2012 - A campaign like no other
07/30/2012 - MI candidates for U.S. House, Senate have raised $40M
07/30/2012 - State House candidates have raised $9.7M
07/26/2012 - Top 150 state PACs have raised $27.3M
07/25/2012 - Ballot committees have spent $20M
07/16/2012 - Incumbents dominate Michigan congressional fundraising
07/06/2012 - Nonprofits blast Obama with $6M "issue ad" campaign
07/05/2012 - DIBC ad spending against bridge tops $3 million in 2012
05/14/2012 - Millions in Michigan political ads unreported
04/30/2012 - Top PACs have raised $22.2M this cycle, up 12.2%
04/27/2012 - Bipartisan task force calls for more transparency, less partisanship in Supreme Court selection process
04/16/2012 - Campaign reports suggest limits of congressional competition
03/01/2012 - Pres TV 2012: Independents outspend candidates by 50%
02/22/2012 - Record spending by MI lobbyists in 2011
02/09/2012 - Michiganders slow to feed SuperPACs
02/09/2012 - Can Durant tap West Michigan donors?
02/03/2012 - Congressional fundraising reflects redistricting
02/03/2012 - Monetizing Democracy
02/01/2012 - Officeholders raised $5.9M during reporting hiatus
01/20/2012 - Ethics, lobbying and campaign finance reform
10/27/2011 - Top PACs have raised $12.7M
10/27/2011 - Michigan High Court Races Most Expensive in Nation in 2009-10
09/28/2011 - Independent spenders dominated 2010 Michigan campaigns
09/19/2011 - DIBC has spent $4.7M for grassroots lobbying, reported nothing
09/14/2011 - The recession is over - for lobbyists
07/26/2011 - Top PACs take in $8.6M
06/13/2011 - Campaign transparency hit new lows in Michigan in 2010
03/15/2011 - The RGA's $114M shell game
02/24/2011 - Lansing lobbying expenditures flat in 2010
02/03/2011 - Top PACs raised $48 million in 2010 cycle
01/20/2011 - Reinventing Michigan Politics
12/03/2010 - $30M spent in three Michigan congressional races
10/29/2010 - Candidates are junior partners in campaign ad wars
10/27/2010 - The era of corporate PACs in Michigan begins
10/25/2010 - House even, Republicans have big money advantage in Senate
10/22/2010 - Statewide candidates file pre-general finance reports
10/19/2010 - Michigan Chamber gives $5.4M to RGA
10/16/2010 - Congressional candidates raised $7.5M in 3rd quarter
10/07/2010 - Lobbyists report spending $17.8M through July
10/05/2010 - Proxies dominate early campaign ad wars
09/29/2010 - Convention nominees report campaign finances
09/24/2010 - Legislative candidates raised $20.9M through post-primary
09/03/2010 - Comparing 21st century Michigan gubernatorial primaries
07/30/2010 - Gub TV: $10.6M; Unaccountable: $3.9M
07/27/2010 - RGA's $4M leads record PAC fundraising
07/26/2010 - Legislative candidates have raised $17.4M for primaries
07/23/2010 - Gubernatorial candidates have raised $16.2 M
07/22/2010 - Applications for gubernatorial public funds indicate breadth of financial support from persons
07/16/2010 - State candidates for U.S. House have raised $20.3M
07/02/2010 - Gubernatorial TV spending totals $3.4 million on July 4th
06/14/2010 - Reading the tea leaves of public funding applications
06/10/2010 - Invisible hands pull strings in Michigan campaigns
06/01/2010 - Gubernatorial TV totals $2.15M on Memorial Day
05/28/2010 - Robinson receives DMBA Liberty Bell Award
05/23/2010 - One small victory for democracy
05/13/2010 - Cowardly New World
05/10/2010 - Transparency in campaigns? State just says, "No."
04/29/2010 - Handi-PAC-ing the Michigan Leadership Derby
04/27/2010 - State PAC fundraising continues to lag
03/17/2010 - Secretary Land's pass/fail legacy test
02/22/2010 - State lobbying down $2.3M in 2009
02/08/2010 - Legislators raised $6 million in 2009
02/02/2010 - Campaign spending for open statewide seats on a blistering pace
01/21/2010 - MCFN statement on <i>Citizens United v. F.E.C.</i>
12/17/2009 - Why is beer tax off the table?
12/11/2009 - Supreme Court DQ Rule: A Glass Half Empty
10/30/2009 - "Issue" advertising dominates 19th District TV campaign
10/28/2009 - PAC fundraising continues to lag behind past cycles
09/21/2009 - State lobbying expenditures dip in 2009
08/05/2009 - Great Recession hits Michigan money-in-politics sector
08/05/2009 - MCFN urges Supremes to consider campaign spending in DQ rule
06/08/2009 - A Victory for Impartial Justice
05/14/2009 - Campaign finance records were set in 2008
03/23/2009 - Lobbyists' spending topped $34 million in 2008
03/17/2009 - Poll: Michiganders want a firewall between judges and campaign supporters
03/06/2009 - Supreme Court Election Campaigns: A Threat to Fair and Impartial Courts?
02/04/2009 - Top Michigan PACs raised $41.4 million in 2008 cycle
11/19/2008 - Anonymous donors dominated Supreme Court campaign
11/11/2008 - Campaign Finance 2008: A first look back
10/29/2008 - Top PACs raised $37.1 million
10/28/2008 - House candidates raise $11.7 million
10/27/2008 - Underground Supreme Court campaign
10/06/2008 - Obama's late ad-vantage
09/17/2008 - Growth sector? Lobbying in Lansing!
09/10/2008 - House candidates on record-setting fund-raising pace
09/02/2008 - Presidential advertising at $13.6M in Michigan
08/19/2008 - Taylor’s campaign sets Supreme Court fundraising record
07/31/2008 - Limited competition for state judicial seats
07/29/2008 - Top PACs have raised $27.3M
07/28/2008 - Michigan House candidates' fundraising tops $8.4 million
07/23/2008 - Presidential TV ads: $7.2 million so far
07/10/2008 - New guide explores redistricting
06/19/2008 - Poll's message to pols: Fix this mess
05/22/2008 - Money behind the policy push
05/08/2008 - New Report Documents Special Interest Pressure on Midwest Courts
04/28/2008 - Top PACs have raised $21.8 million this cycle
03/10/2008 - Stop the Revolving Door
02/20/2008 - Midwest Democracy Network: All presidential candidates should respond to political reform questionnaire
02/20/2008 - Lobbyists reported spending $32.1M in 2007
02/19/2008 - Grassroots to Legislature: Support Impartial Justice
02/01/2008 - Delayed accountability beats no accountability
01/16/2008 - Health check-up for Midwest democracy
01/14/2008 - Romney is top TV spender in Michigan GOP presidential primary
12/26/2007 - Meijer's failed coup d'etat
12/03/2007 - Michigan political reformers urge continuous improvement of state's election system
11/27/2007 - Midwest Democracy Network Releases Responses to Presidential Questionnaire
10/30/2007 - Leadership PACs are big winners in October reports
10/22/2007 - Here we go again: A $20M Supreme Court campaign?
10/03/2007 - Surprise! Lobbyists' spending up (again)
09/11/2007 - Midwest Demcracy Network Questions Presidential Candidates on Reform Issues
07/30/2007 - Top PACs beat record fundraising pace of 2006 cycle
07/18/2007 - Michigan political campaigns topped $192 million in 2006
06/26/2007 - Roberts' New Rules
06/12/2007 - Midwest Reform Groups Call on FCC to Hold TV Broadcasters Accountable for Inadequate Election and Government Coverage
05/17/2007 - National Report Documents High Cost, Special Interest Influence in Michigan Judicial Campaigns
02/26/2007 - Michigan lobbyists spent $29.9 million in 2006
02/07/2007 - Top 150 PACs raised $51.9 million in 2006 cycle
11/28/2006 - A Political Reform Agenda for Michigan
11/21/2006 - TV coverage of campaigns increased; ads still dominated
11/05/2006 - Michigan candidates have raised $117 million
11/02/2006 - The DeVos campaign in national perspective
11/01/2006 - Gubernatorial TV campaigns top $50 million
10/29/2006 - Top PACs' fundraising hits $47 million
10/26/2006 - Mutually assured destruction
10/16/2006 - Congressional incumbents dominate money chase
10/12/2006 - 30 seconds of news, $30 million in ads
09/28/2006 - Gubernatorial TV spending passes $26 million
09/21/2006 - Legislative candidates raised $19.3M, spent $14.3M through primary election
09/14/2006 - Midwest Reform Survey - Michigan results
09/11/2006 - Ruling disallows co-op lobbying gifts
08/31/2006 - Preseason gubernatorial TV ad tab: $16.7 million
08/21/2006 - Clean Elections Week: August 21-25, 2006
08/04/2006 - 7th District Republican primary tops $3 million
08/02/2006 - Legislative candidates’ fundraising tops $16 million
08/01/2006 - Candidate questionnaire explores democracy issues
07/28/2006 - Incumbents rule congressional fundraising
07/27/2006 - Top PACs have raised $30 million
07/19/2006 - DDV4G TV tops $10 M
06/21/2006 - DeVos dollars and "education choice"
06/05/2006 - DeVos TV campaign at $5.4 million
04/27/2006 - Top 150 PACs up 24 percent
04/18/2006 - Incumbents dominate congressional campaign fund raising
02/06/2006 - Michigan officeholders raised $10 million in 2005
02/04/2005 - PAC fundraising tops $33 million for '04 cycle
02/02/2005 - Judicial campaign 'whodunit'
10/29/2004 - Top PACs raise $30 million with more to come
10/27/2004 - Stealth campaigning sullies Supreme Court campaign
10/26/2004 - Bush-Kerry TV ad race reaches $34 million
10/24/2004 - Borrowing and independent expenditures fuel House campaigns
07/28/2004 - Main Street answers The Club
07/16/2004 - Seat for sale?
07/16/2004 - "Millionaires' Amendment" in play in 7th District primary

Michigan Campaign Finance Network Coverage

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