LANSING, MI — Congressional races are taking shape as candidates gunning for U.S. House seats submitted campaign filings last week for the first quarter of 2022.
U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Waterford Township, and Rep. Andy Levin, D-Bloomfield Township are competing to be the Democrat who makes it out of the newly-drawn congressional district that contains parts of the neighboring districts they currently represent. The winner is expected to take the Democratic-leaning 11th Congressional District.
Stevens outraised Levin during the latest reporting period ranging from Jan. 1 to March 31, as she reported bringing in $1.1 million, compared to Levin’s $767,268.
Stevens ended the latest filing period with $2.8 million cash on hand, campaign finance reports show.
Stevens also reported raising more money than her primary challenger at the end of 2021.
Meijer leads west Michigan candidates
Meanwhile in the state’s new 3rd District in west Michigan, covering Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Grand Haven, incumbent Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Grand Rapids Township, raised $553,135 last quarter, with $1.5 million cash on hand, according to campaign finance records.
Hillary Scholten, who is vying for the Democratic primary, posted $486,589 with $470,264 cash on hand. She lost to Meijer, the grandson of the founder of the local grocery chain, in 2020. Meijer won 53.1% of the vote, compared to Scholten’s 46.9%.
John Gibbs, who worked for the Trump administration and was endorsed by the former president, raised $123,035 and reported $81,935 cash on hand.
Detroit’s 13th District: Hollier raises over $500K, Thanedar with $5 million on hand
With no incumbent in light of U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence’s retirement, there’s nearly a dozen candidates running for the Detroit-based 13th District.
The Democratic leaning district has businessman and state Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Detroit, leading candidates in cash on hand as he is mostly self-funding his campaign.
Thanedar raised $180,758 and reported $5,040,404 cash on hand during the first quarter. He donated $170,000 to his own campaign.
Sen. Adam Hollier, D-Detroit, reported raising $513,012 during the quarter, and highlighted that the figure included contributions from over a thousand donors across the district.
“I am thrilled with our FEC report this quarter because it shows that we are a campaign built by the community, and that this group of people made sure we had the resources we need to run the campaign we need to run,” Hollier said in a statement last week.
According to the most recent filings, Hollier has $453,279 on hand.
Portia Roberson, an attorney who earned the endorsement of Lawrence earlier this year, raised $267,539 during the first quarter and posted $253,482 cash on hand, reports show.
Tlaib leads 12th District race
Tlaib reported raising $495,054 this quarter. Her challenger, Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey, raised $236,296.
Of the $236,000 Winfrey has raised, about $106,000 has come from AIPAC donors, the Michigan Campaign Finance Network reported. The group, which has donated to several other Michigan congressional candidates, is widely considered the strongest pro-Israel lobby.
Tlaib is an outspoken advocate for Palestinians and has long opposed U.S. aid for Israel.
Also running in the 12th District is former state Rep. Shanelle Jackson.
Slotkin leads big over Barrett
In the Lansing-based 7th District, U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, raised over $1.3 million the first quarter, with $5.5 million on hand.
She more than doubled the total of her opponent, state Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, who reported raising $465,735 with $395,910 on hand during the period. His campaign reported raising money from more than 12,000 individuals.
“I’m overwhelmed by the number of people who have invested in our campaign,” Barrett, said in a statement.
Slotkin was first elected to the House in 2018 but her new district slightly favors Republicans. The congresswoman’s campaign noted that 89% of the $1.3 million she raised came from donors who gave $100 or less.
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