Cash flowed to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's national PAC in 2023
Craig MaugerLansing — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's fundraising committee that can spend on races for federal offices, like president or Congress, brought in $1.8 million over the final six months of 2023, according to a disclosure released Wednesday.
The Fight Like Hell political action committee's haul pointed to the increasing spotlight on Whitmer, a Democrat, and her plans to get more involved in key political races nationally.
For example, on Dec. 29, the Fight Like Hell PAC reported giving $47,900 to the Biden Victory Fund, which is backing Democratic President Joe Biden's reelection. And Oct. 25, Fight Like Hell gave $10,000 to Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights, which supported a successful ballot measure in November to protect abortion rights in Ohio.
“We launched Fight Like Hell PAC to bring Michigan’s fight for basic freedoms to our grassroots supporters’ backyards across the entire country," Whitmer said in a statement Wednesday. "I am thrilled that people who want to see their rights protected, their costs lowered and jobs created in their communities stepped up to help us ensure that President Biden, Vice President (Kamala) Harris and Democrats up and down the ticket win this November.”
Whitmer's team formed in the PAC, which can get involved in other politicians' campaigns, in June. Its name came from the governor's 2022 pledge to "fight like hell" to safeguard abortion access in Michigan.
Since June, the PAC has raised $2 million with $1.8 million in contributions reported in the new disclosure, which covered the final six months of 2023.
The top donors included Gwendolyn Sontheim of California, an heir to the Cargill corporation, who gave $250,000, Deborah Simon, a philanthropist from Indiana, who gave $100,000, and Chris Stolte of Washington, co-founder of Tableau Software, who gave $40,000.
Actress Jane Fonda also gave $1,000, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker contributed $5,000, and filmmaker Rob Reiner chipped in $5,000.
Of the $1.4 million in itemized contributions in the new report, only about $107,000 came from people or groups listing Michigan addresses. But, in a statement, Fight Like Hell PAC said 96% of its donations were under $100, "signaling tremendous grassroots strength from Gov. Whitmer’s supporters in Michigan and across the country."
Republicans in Michigan have criticized Whitmer over her expanding role in national politics in recent weeks. In a tweet on Jan. 24, state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Township, accused Whitmer of public relations "maneuvers" and attempting "to keep up with the Newsoms," referring to California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Both Newsom and Whitmer are viewed by many Democrats as potential presidential candidates in 2028.
Newsom's federal PAC called Campaign for Democracy reported raising $878,000 over the final six months of 2023, according its new disclosure.
Whitmer won a second term as Michigan's governor in November 2022 and helped successfully urge voters to approve a ballot proposal to protect abortion rights in the state Constitution.
Adrian Hemond, a Democrat and CEO of the Lansing-based consulting firm Grassroots Midwest, said Whitmer is one of the Democratic stars nationally on the topic of abortion rights, which he described as Democrats best issue in the 2024 presidential election.
"She's got the rhetoric and the delivery, and she's got some results she can point to," Hemond said of Whitmer.
Whitmer is positioned well to win support from donors who are focused on abortion rights, Hemond added.
Fight Like Hell PAC contributed to 11 congressional candidates over the final six months of 2023, including campaigns in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Nevada. The PAC also gave $3,300 to U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, and $1,000 to former state Sen. Curtis Hertel, D-East Lansing, who's running for the U.S. House in the 7th District.
Hertel was Whitmer's legislative director in the first half of 2023 before leaving the governor's office to run for Congress.
cmauger@detroitnews.com