Fundraising committees tied to nearly half of Michigan’s current state officeholders have had to pay financial penalties — called late filing fees — for failing to meet donor disclosure requirements, according to an analysis of campaign finance records. Current state officeholders’ campaigns and political action committees (PACs) have combined to pay penalties of at least $112,695 throughout the officeholders’ political careers. read more

posted on 07/09/2019

As new Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson pushes for better collection of $1.5 million in unpaid campaign finance reporting penalties, an analysis of the outstanding fees shows how difficult the effort for better enforcement under current state law may be. People behind some of the committees that potentially owe the most say there's no way their committees could pay. read more

posted on 06/17/2019

Compared to other states, Michigan would have a one-of-a-kind system for deciding who gets to enforce and administer campaign finance laws under bills advancing in the Legislature’s lame-duck session. The Michigan Campaign Finance Network examined the process of the 49 other states to see how the Michigan proposal compares. read more

posted on 12/10/2018

The three major-party candidates in Michigan's 2018 U.S. Senate race combined to raise $20.5 million by the end of March, according to campaign finance disclosures. One of the candidates is an incumbent with a large fundraising lead. One is self-financing his campaign. And the third is receiving heavy support from some of Michigan's top donors. read more

posted on 07/09/2018

Michigan lawmakers and other state officials reported having 601 fundraisers during 2017, a significant increase compared with previous years, according to a review of campaign finance disclosures. Nearly half of the events took place in downtown Lansing within walking distance of the Capitol on days the Legislature was in session. read more

posted on 03/26/2018

Many of the men and women who sit on the boards that oversee Michigan’s public universities have made names for themselves in business or politics. Many also happen to be generous campaign donors. read more

posted on 02/27/2018

The campaigns of 50 percent of current state lawmakers have paid fees for failure to comply with the state’s campaign finance reporting requirements. The fundraising committees of current lawmakers have paid nearly $100,000 in penalties over the lawmakers’ careers,. read more

posted on 06/07/2017