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CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS
T
he Aug. 5 primary in Michigan is one that matters when it comes to power shifts in certain coveted districts. Will Thomas Stallworth, D-Detroit, currently a state representative in the 7th District, be rewarded with a state Senate slot for working to broker the “grand bargain” in the Detroit pension deal? Will Mike Kowall, R-White Lake, chairman of the Senate Economic Development Committee and noted for legislation that would have supported a new hospital for McLaren Health Care, earn another term? These are some of the races to watch, and this is your scorecard. Before you vote, review the race highlights in our coverage along with a guide to the major
Know the candidates with this scorecard candidates for Wayne County executive. This report does not include state or congressional races in which leading candidates are running unopposed in their political party. But getting past the primary is the first order of business for the candidates highlighted here. If you have a suggestion for our coverage leading up to the November general
election, contact Jennette Smith, managing editor, jhsmith@crain.com, or Chris Gautz, Lansing correspondent, cgautz@crain.com PAC spending up ... way up, this page The most interesting Senate primary outside Detroit involves — what else? — road funding, this page Wayne County executive: A grid is your guide,
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Term-limited reps look to lengthen Lansing lives in state Senate, Page 18 Congressional contests: A rundown of the primary races in the 8th, 11th and 14th Congressional Districts, Page 19
Fundraising for state’s 150 largest PACs up 44% over ’12 BY CHRIS GAUTZ CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT
This election season’s war chests are expected to be hefty, if the amount of money flooding into political action committees continues to grow as political analysts expect. A report by the Lansing-based Michigan Campaign Finance Network in April showed that the state’s 150 largest PACs had a 44 percent increase in fundraising hauls compared with the same point in the 2012 election cycle, an increase of $9.9 million. Those 150 PACs have raised a total of $32 million so far, and it will be clear how much larger PACs have grown when PACs and candidates for state office release new campaign finance data on July 25. So far this year, the PAC spending has been dominated, as usual, by the House and Senate campaign funds of both political parties and by business and union groups. The largest PAC in the state so far is the Republican Governors Association, which has more than $4 million in the bank to help support the re-election of Gov. Rick Snyder. The Democratic Governors Associa-
tion has just a little more than $9,000 in the bank as it supports former congressman Mark Schauer in his bid to unseat Snyder. The DGA has been running a series of ads lately in support of Schauer, so when its campaign finance filing is released later this month, it should reflect those expenses. T.J. Bucholz, president of Lansing-based Vanguard Public Affairs, said the election cycle so far has been “fairly sleepy,” with the open U.S. Senate race attracting most of the big money from outside groups. But that will change soon, he said. “I think some of the dollars haven’t been spent yet,” Bucholz said. “Once we hit Labor Day, you’ll really start to see money spent on television ads.” Here are some of the top political action committees in the state, and those backed by businesses and unions, as reported by the Michigan Secretary of State: Republican Governors Association: Raised from Feb. 11 through April 20: $0; raised from Jan. 1 through April 20: $0; spent between Feb. 11 through April 20: $37,305.10; cash on hand as of April 20: $4,368,330.46.
Senate Republican Campaign Committee: Raised from Feb. 11 through April 20: $509,136.68; raised from Jan. 1 through April 20: $509,136.68; spent between Feb. 11 through April 20: $81,716.67; cash on hand as of April 20: $1,998,386.08. House Republican Campaign Committee: Raised from Feb. 11 through April 20: $639,780; raised from Jan. 1 through April 20: $639,780; spent between Feb. 11 through April 20: $48,452.81; cash on hand as of April 20: $1,956,292.34. Michigan House Democratic Fund: Raised from Feb. 11 through April 20: $501,409.39; raised from Jan. 1 through April 20: $1,492,146.62; spent between Feb. 11 through April 20: $109,863.51; cash on hand as of April 20: $1,365,676.72. Michigan Senate Democratic Fund: Raised from Feb. 11 through April 20: $265,770.66; raised from Jan. 1 through April 20: $265,770.66; spent between Feb. 11 through April 20: $77,965.20; cash on hand as of April 20: $714,216.07. Michigan Education Association PAC: Raised from Feb. 11 through April 20: $184,100.90; raised from
Jan. 1 through April 20: $227,684.24; spent between Feb. 11 through April 20: $111,535.31; cash on hand as of April 20: $524,437,75. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan PAC: Raised from Feb. 11 through April 20: $115,494.95; raised from Jan. 1 through April 20: $187,350.82; spent between Feb. 11 through April 20: $173,523.24; cash on hand as of April 20: $331,634.77. Business Leaders for Michigan PAC: Raised from Feb. 11 through April 20: $94,750; raised from Jan. 1 through April 20: $94,750; spent between Feb. 11 through April 20: $6,523.98; cash on hand as of April 20: $262,020.22. Michigan Chamber of Commerce PAC: Raised from Feb. 11 through April 20: $79.791.62; raised from Jan. 1 through April 20: $103,534.33; spent between Feb. 11 through April 20: $121,761.10; cash on hand as of April 20: $216,038.28. Michigan Chamber PAC III SuperPAC: Raised from Feb. 11 through April 20: $29,200; raised from Jan. 1 through April 20: $29,975; spent between Feb. 11 through April 20: $676.39; cash on hand as of April 20: $173,308.09.
Detroit Regional Chamber PAC: Raised from Feb. 11 through April 20: $14,904.05; raised from Jan. 1 through April 20: $16,446.48; spent between Feb. 11 through April 20: $7,890; cash on hand as of April 20: $20,489.54. Democratic Governors Association: Raised from Feb. 11 through April 20: $0; raised from Jan. 1 through April 20: $0; spent between Feb. 11 through April 20: $0; cash on hand as of April 20: $9,158.24. DTE Energy Co. PAC: Raised from Feb. 11 through April 20: $67,783.82; raised from Jan. 1 through April 20: $108,518.48; spent between Feb. 11 through April 20: $150,700; cash on hand as of April 20: $7,655.91. Turnaround Detroit Super PAC (Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan): Raised from Feb. 11 through April 20: $0; raised from Jan. 1 through April 20: $0; spent between Feb. 11 through April 20: $15,617.11; cash on hand as of April 20: $737.50. Crain’s reporter Kirk Pinho contributed to this report. Chris Gautz: (517) 403-4403, cgautz@crain.com. Twitter: @chrisgautz
Road funding at play in MacMaster-Schmidt race Easily the most interRepublicans have been esting and watched state unable to come up with Senate primary outside enough votes for some of Southeast Michigan is form of a tax increase one taking place among that will generate at the cherry trees in northleast $1.2 billion more ern Michigan. annually in revenue to But there’s more than fix state roads and one reason that people bridges. are watching this faceoff Among the Republibetween state Reps. Greg cans opposed to such a MacMaster, R-Kewadin, tax increase is MacMasand Wayne Schmidt, Rter, who has aligned himChris Gautz Traverse City. It’s not self with many Tea Party just about who will serve as the groups in the district and bills next state senator for the 37th Dis- himself as the true conservative in trict, but whether the outcome will the race. serve as a harbinger of a major He has said the $1.2 billion needdeal on road funding in the Legisla- ed for roads can be found with a reture. aligning of existing state reAs chairman of the Transporta- sources. tion Committee, Schmidt has been The business community, which the point person in the House dur- predominantly backs Schmidt, suping negotiations to find ways to in- ports the call for some type of tax crease revenue for the state’s increase. And business groups are roads. That is now being used putting financial resources behind against him by MacMaster. candidates like Schmidt who face Schmidt’s efforts, and those of opposition from Tea Party-aligned Gov. Rick Snyder, have failed as candidates like MacMaster. The
Capitol B r i e fi ng s
MacMaster
Schmidt
feeling is that if more members like MacMaster take office, it will make it harder to ever get a deal done on transportation because of their unwillingness to raise taxes. Schmidt has been endorsed by the Detroit Regional Chamber and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, and MacMaster boasts a plethora of endorsements from local elected officials and individuals. MacMaster also has the backing of former congressman Pete Hoekstra, former state GOP chairman Saul Anuzis and controversial Republican National Committee member and former state lawmaker Dave Agema.
End-of-the-year campaign finance filings with the secretary of state show Schmidt with a sizable war chest. He ended the year with more than $93,000 in cash on hand, compared to just more than $4,000 for MacMaster. MacMaster’s funding has largely come from small donations from residents of the district, while about half of Schmidt’s funding came from what was left over from his House campaign, as well as several large checks from business groups and from district residents. But MacMaster has name recognition throughout the district from his years as a TV and radio weatherman. While some of his supporters have not shown they have strong financial resources, his Tea Party supporters are believed to be motivated and willing to work hard to get out the vote. In other races around the state and nation, candidates backed by Tea Party groups have shown they can out-hustle candidates backed by more establishment groups. For-
mer U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor suffered a stunning defeat in Virginia last month to a relatively unknown primary opponent with little financial resources. But aside from the endorsements and financial edge Schmidt has, he also has voter population trends on his side. The Republican-leaning district stretches from Traverse City to Mackinac Island to Sault Ste. Marie, which should give an edge to Schmidt as he is from the more populous portion of the district. MacMaster and Schmidt are running to replace Sen. Howard Walker, R-Traverse City, who declined to run for a second term. Both camps have polling showing they have a considerable lead in the race, but the only polling that matters takes place on Aug. 5, which is why this primary race will be an important one to watch until the end. Chris Gautz: (517) 403-4403, cgautz@crain.com. Twitter: @chrisgautz