(Source: MIRS.news, Published 09/01/22) Democrats in 10 unique state Senate races raised an average of more than $85,799 from July 18 to Aug. 22, while the average among their Republican opponents was significantly lower at $14,603.
MIRS explored the recent candidate campaign finance filings across 10 different state Senate districts. Several of those territories have been considered flippable arenas for Democrats aiming to take over a Senate majority, which hasn't existed in Michigan since 1983.
For example, the top fundraiser on the list was Bay City commissioner Kristin McDonald Rivet, a Democrat competing against current Rep. Annette Glenn (R-Midland) in a 53.1% Democratic base district. The new 35th state Senate district is located against Lake Huron's Saginaw Bay and connects the tri-cities of Midland, Bay City and Saginaw.
After competing in a four-person Republican primary, Glenn reported raising $21,595 during the post-primary period, has collected $267,789 in contributions overall and has $23,883.
Meanwhile, Rivet raised $112,736 this period, $322,534.49 overall and has $237,035 on hand.
"I'm proud of the groundswell of support our campaign is receiving," said Rivet in a press release from Senate Democrats. "People are volunteering in droves to knock doors and make calls, and individuals are contributing what they can because they're tired of having their needs put on the backburner time and time again by the current leadership in Lansing."
In their press release concerning the aforementioned 10 districts, Senate Democrats listed off that their candidates have:
- Outraised Republicans $857,996 to $155,034.
- Has more than $2.31 million cash on-hand in comparison to Republicans' $489,039 in these districts.
- Democrats earned 5,278 individual contributions while Republicans collected 292 in these races.
In the new West Michigan 30th state Senate district while sitting Sen. Mark Huizenga (R-Walker) is competing to return to the chamber with $365,030 raised overall this cycle, present-day Rep. David Lagrand (D-Grand Rapids) is trying to make a splash in the 53.7% Republican-base district after raising $100,446 this period, $284,828 overall and has $155,214.
The biggest spenders of these competitive districts include current Rep. Darrin Camilleri (D-Brownstown Twp.) who's hoping to transition into the chamber in the new Downriver 4th state Senate district.
Camilleri raised $74,005 this period, spent the most out of the pool at $105,109 and has $260,778 on-hand.
The Republican in his race, James Houston, is ranked within the five lowest fundraisers after acquiring $9,836 in contributions this period, $39,191 overall and has $10,998 remaining in the wallet.
LaGrand followed Camilleri by spending $90,222 this period and Rep. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores), who's in a uniquely competitive Lake St. Clair 12th state Senate district that has a tight 50.9% Republican stronghold, came in third.
Rep. Hertel spent $64,585 this period to go up against Republican House Education Chair Pamela Hornberger (R-Chesterfield Twp.). The Democrat has raised $91,422 this period, $277,815 overall and has $187,882 remaining in his bank account.
Meanwhile, Hornberger – who failed to win in a special election against Sen. Doug Wozniak (R-Shelby Township) during Summer 2021 – has raised $6,663 this period, $179,032 overall and has $25,331 leftover on the balance sheet.
Term-limited Sen. Curtis Hertel (D-East Lansing), whose little brother is facing off with Hornberger, said "I think it's obvious that we're the favorite for this point."
"It's good to have our candidates out there working hard. I'm proud of each and every one of them. And to be, the only way to take majority is to out-work and out-raise your opponent," Sen. Hertel told MIRS.
Although Sen. Hertel and Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich (D-Flint) are leaving the Capitol after 2022, the two exiting Democrats have both shared a priority of aiding their younger colleagues in pursuing a Senate majority.
With Hertel family roots spread across the district's Grosse Pointe and St. Clair Shores communities, the Democratic senator said knocking on doors in Grosse Pointe for his brother is like a family reunion.
"I've met people who got engaged in my grandparents' bar on the eastside of Detroit. I've met people who my dad helped them in getting their financial aid when they were in school 30 years ago," Sen. Hertel said. "I miss my dad every day, but it feels like he's on the campaign trail with me when I'm going door-to-door there because of all the relationships and the kind of public servant that he was."
Underdogs in the slate of aspirational Senate flippers also feature Macomb County Democrat Veronica Klinefelt, the previous Eastpointe City Council mayor pro tem, who's challenging incumbent Sen. Michael D. MacDonald (R-Sterling Heights) in the nearly 54% freshly Democratic leaning 11th state Senate district.
However, Klinefelt outraised MacDonald $74,435 to his $20,129 this period. She raised $216,274 overall while MacDonald has raised more than $735,425 throughout this cycle; she additionally has $23,883 on-hand in contrast to the $4,837 leftover in his wallet.
When asked about Republicans' strategy in these magic districts, Republican Senate Pro Tempore Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton) told MIRS "our candidates are knocking doors and working hard meeting with voters, sharing their messages to help struggling families, improve our economy, and move Michigan in the right direction again."
Meanwhile, Sen. Hertel expressed to MIRS that "unless playing dead is a legitimate strategy then I don't get it."
