Big money has arrived in northern Michigan political races, according to filing reports and the Michigan Campaign Finance Network (MCFN), which tracks money raised and spent in political races. MCFN Executive Director Craig Mauger says the race for the State House in the 104th District (Grand Traverse County) is one that’s attracting significant outside money. “The 104th has seen more attention and advertising,” says Mauger. “Lansing-based groups see it as an important race.”
 
MCFN has tracked $68,040 spent in the race as of Oct. 12 by and for the two candidates, incumbent Republican Larry Inman and his challenger, Democrat Dan O’Neil. Thus far Inman’s campaign has raised $76,693 and O’Neil’s $137,917.
 
Inman’s top donors are Michigan Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association, $10,000; Health PAC, Health & Hospital Association, $7,500; and Consumers Energy, $2,750. O’Neil’s are Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters, $5,000; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, $5,000; Sheet Metal Workers Local 7, $5,000; Michigan Laborers Political League, $2,500.
 
Mauger notes the sea change in how campaigns are funded, even in just the last eight years. “It used to be a lot was driven by the candidates. Now a lot is done by outside groups, non-profits or Super PACs.” With the elections just three weeks away, he says consumers are likely to see more ads from outside groups, with taglines such as “Not authorized by any candidate” or “Paid for by” someone other than the candidate.
 
In the race for the State Senate in the 35th District, representing a dozen northwestern Michigan counties including Benzie, Kalkaska, Leelanau and Manistee, Republican Curt Vanderwall has raised $147,950. His biggest donor is himself, as he’s put $25,000 into his campaign. Other large donors are Chatfield Majority Fund, Lee Chatfield, $7,000; Michigan Pest Management Association, $6,500; Michigan Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association, $4,500; and West Shore Majority Fund, Goeff Hansen, $2,500.
 
Across the aisle, Democrat Mike Taillard has raised $11,830. His top donors include Benzie County Democratic Party, $2,000; Laurie Spoon, campaign manager, $1,036; and Crystal Cafe, $1,000. He’s donated $1,912 himself. Both of Vanderwall’s primary opponents also outraised Taillard: Ray Frantz raised $68,009, while Bruce Rendon raised $106,498.
 
In the 37th District, which includes Grand Traverse County, the tip of the mitt and the eastern third of the UP, Republican Wayne Schmidt, the incumbent, has raised $396,518. His opponent, Democrat Jim Page, lags far behind with $12,686. Schmidt’s top donors include Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, $10,300, with four others topping $7,000 in contributions.
 
In the race for the State House in the 101st District, Republican Jack O’Malley has raised $64,897. Top donors include Chatfield Majority Fund, Lee Chatfield, $10,000; Jack O'Malley, $8,513; Chatfield Majority Fund II, Lee Chatfield, $2,500; and Michigan Farm Bureau, $2,000.
 
Meanwhile, Democrat Kathy Wiejacjka has raised $79,275. Her largest donors are herself and the Democratic party. She’s put in $11,670, while the Leelanau County Democratic Party has contributed $10,000, the Manistee County Democrats $4,000, and the Benzie County Democrats $2,603. The district encompasses the lakeshore counties of Leelanau, Benzie, Manistee and Mason.
 
Of course, the money for these races is dwarfed by the amount spent by candidates at the state level. Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Schuette has raised $6,559,358. His opponent, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer, has tallied $8,195,995.
 
And some of the biggest spenders didn’t even make it past the primary. That’s particularly true in the governor’s race, where Ann Arbor businessman Shri Thanedar spent nearly $10.7 million of his own money in a losing cause, coming in third. He was the largest single donor in the state.
 
Other large donors were the combined spending of the DeVos Family, Amway, Windquest Group and Altico, which donated about $7.1 million to Republican candidates. Gross Point businessman Sandy Pensler, who was a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate but lost to John James, spent about $5 million on his campaign, while Dr. Jim Hines and his wife Martha Hines contributed about $2.6 million in financial support for his campaign for governor. He came in fourth place in the Republican primary.