(Source: MIRS.news, Published 02/05/2024) The Michigan Republican Party's (MRP) federal account – once a fund used to support federal races featuring Michigan candidates with campaign-related expenditures -- is now being used to cover day-to-day party expenses, the Mackinac Policy Conference and salaries, according to campaign finance documents released over the weekend.
With $246,241 in the bank and $184,471 in debt, the fund is struggling to live hand-to-mouth as it limps into 2024.
If it weren't for the $120,000 six presidential campaigns gave the MRP last year so their candidates could be considered at the March 2 presidential caucus/convention, this account would be in the red.
The much-maligned party apparatus, led by disputed Chair Kristina Karamo, reported that during a six-month reporting period from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2023, it raised $286,000, spent $156,000 and dialed up $183,000 in debt for new computers and voter data.
The report showed that the presidential campaigns of Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie, Vivek Ramaswamy and Ryan Binkley each gave $20,000 to be considered in the caucus. Otherwise, the party received $150,000 from 353 individuals, many of whom gave $10 or $15 multiple times.
Under Team Karamo, $60,000 was spent on campaign-related material, but $113,000 was spent on computers. Also, $91,000 went to the Grand Hotel and Mackinac Conference speakers. The rest of was spent on food, lodging and travel reimbursements and staff salaries. Twice last year, Karamo's own bi-weekly salary came out of this fund.
By comparison, in 2021, the MRP's federal fund had around 265 contributors but 118 of them gave $10,000. That cycle, this fund had $1.4 million in it at this point with $0 debt. In 2019, it had $750,000 in it with $3,000 in debt. In 2017, it had $1.2 million and $0 debt. In 2015, $500,000 and $0 debt. In 2013, $1 million in the bank and $75,000 in debt. In 2011, $839,000 with $0 debt. In 2009, $1 million with no debt.
Also in years' past, the money that had been spent from this account was on robocalling and various ad campaigns. Whether the federal account can even be used to cover general state operations not associated with federal races is a question.
The MRP still has not filed a campaign finance report with the Michigan Bureau of Elections for the calendar year 2023.
