Democrats are hoping for a “Blue Wave” in state legislative races in November.
But Republicans are seeing a “green wave” of campaign donations.
The Michigan Campaign Finance Network reports the 30 largest legislative leadership political action committees have raised $3.4 million. 24 of the 30 are Republican PACs.
“A lot of people are predicting this blue wave,” says MCFN executive director Craig Mauger, “but what you’re seeing in the fundraising numbers…at the state level in Michigan, Republicans have a major fundraising advantage.”
When you compare the amount of money raised by the top legislative leadership PACs, the gap is even more pronounced.
Mauger says, among the top 30 PACs, Republicans have out fundraised Democrats by a six to one margin.
“We saw quite a few donors in the disclosures we looked through giving individual contributions of $50,000, $40,000, $25,000, which is a lot of money for state level races,” says Mauger.
Through these PACs, lawmakers can raise unlimited amounts of money from donors and interest groups. They then can funnel the money to other legislative campaigns.
Mauger says the fundraising advantage allows Republicans to contribute large sums of money to candidates in tight legislative races to improve the GOP’s chances of retaining control of Michigan’s legislature.
