(Source: MIRS.news, Published 07/20/2023) If there's good news for the five Democratic and one Republican House member subject to recall petitions taken out against them, it's this:
A special, new fundraising period allowing them to raise an unlimited sum of money starts as soon as recall organizers start collecting signatures or file language with the Secretary of State's office on the petitions' wording.
The Secretary of State's office responded Thursday that a recall election is considered a "new election cycle" for the purposes of raising money. An individual can give another $1,225 to a state House candidate during the recall after having given the $1,225 maximum to the committee, said Cheri Hardmon, Secretary of State spokesperson.
She added there is no cap on how much a state House member can raise during a recall campaign against him or her.
However, as was the case with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last year when a few dissidents filed recall language against her, the House candidates are limited to what they can do with the money if the recall attempt falls apart and the money isn't spent.
Once a recall attempt is no longer being sought, the unspent money either needs to be disposed of based on a last-in, first-out formula, Hardmon said.
Unspent money can be returned to the contributor, it can be shifted to the regular campaign cycle as long as it doesn't violate individual contribution limits, donated to the party, or donated, in general.
A recall attempt is dead when the Secretary of State determines the number of signatures is insufficient, the collection window for the signatures expires, the Secretary of State shoots down the petition language and organizers do not try again to submit new language, the special election ends or recall organizers stop collecting signatures.
Recall petitions are being sought against Reps. Jaime Churches (D-Wyandotte), Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City), Jennifer Conlin (D-Ann Arbor), Sharon MacDonell (D-Troy) and Reggie Miller (D-Belleville) for their votes on gun control legislation and their votes in support of toughening the state's Hate Crimes statute.
Rep. Cam Cavitt (R-Cheboygan) said some residents are organizing a recall against him.
