Meijer raises $550k, Stevens leads Levin in U.S. House fundraising in Michigan
LANSING — First-term U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer has a big fundraising edge in his re-election, while in metro Detroit, incumbent Rep. Haley Stevens has outraised fellow Democrat Rep. Andy Levin, according to campaign finance reports released Friday.
Meijer is being targeted in west Michigan because he is one of 10 Republicans to vote to impeach former President Donald Trump.
He was expected to face a tough primary challenge in the 3rd District but raised $553,135 during the first quarter of this year and entered April with more than $1.5 million in the bank, records show.
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He outraised John Gibbs, a former Trump official endorsed by the former president. He raised $123,035 and had just over $81,000 on hand by the end of March.
The likely Democrat in the district — Hillary Scholten — raised $486,589 during the quarter and had $470,264 on hand. She lost to Meijer in 2020 by 6 points.
Congressional campaign finance filings were due 5 p.m. Friday for the first quarter of 2022. But as of 8 p.m., many still had not filed.
The races have a far different dynamic this year because Michigan is losing a congressional district because of stagnant population, falling to 13, while redistricting is expected to make many races far more competitive.
Two incumbents, Fred Upton, R-Kalamazoo, and Brenda Lawrence, D-Southfield, also have opted against seeking re-election.
In other races:
Stevens outraises Levin
Stevens, D-Waterford Township, raised $1.1 million over the past three months compared to $767,268 for Levin, D-Bloomfield. She has $2.8 million on hand compared to Levin’s $1.5 million.
The district is set entirely within Oakland County and is considered a safe seat for Democrats.
Both Stevens and Levin announced campaigns in the 11th District shortly after the state’s redistricting commission made the new districts official, setting off a head-to-head primary between two incumbents who were first elected in 2018.
Stevens previously lived in what is now the 10th district. Levin’s home was drawn into the new seat, but much of his old district was in Macomb County and is now in the 10th District, which slightly leans Republican.
Hollier raises over $500k in Detroit
In the heavily Democratic 13th District centered in Detroit, state Sen. Adam Hollier, D-Detroit, appears to be among the top of the pack in the crowded Democratic primary.
According to the most recent filings, Hollier raised $513,013 and had $453,279 on hand.
State Rep. Shri Thanedar of Detroit, a businessman bankrolling his campaign, had the most cash on hand to spend of any candidate by far — with more than $5 million in reserves as of Friday. Thanedar raised $180,758 this quarter.
Michael Griffie, an attorney, raised $307,090 and had $252,905 in cash on hand, per the latest filings. Fellow attorney Portia Roberson — who is endorsed by the Lawrence — raised $267,539 this quarter and has $253,482 on hand.
Former Detroit City Council member Sharon McPhail reported raising $35,065 and has $33,330 cash on hand.
At least 10 candidates are vying for the heavily Democratic Detroit-based district, where no current incumbents are running. Lawrence is retiring, and U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, opted to run in the new neighboring 12th district.
Tlaib reported raising $495,054 this quarter. Her challenger, Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey, raised $236,296.
Winfrey saw significant support from donors affiliated with pro-Israeli groups, according to the Michigan Campaign Finance Network. Tlaib has been a vocal critic of Israel’s government and treatment of Palestinians.
Slotkin outraises Barrett
In Michigan’s 7th District — centered in Lansing, one of the state’s most closely-watched races — Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, raised more than $1.3 million in the first quarter, entering April with $5.5 million on hand.
Her Republican challenger, state Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Potterville, raised $465,735 in the quarter and has $395,910 in the bank.
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