Democrats, Republicans each raise $1M ahead of 2024 battle for Michigan House control

Lansing — The fundraising arms of Michigan's House Republicans and Democrats raised more than $1 million each in the fourth quarter of 2023, each caucus corralling contributions ahead of the 2024 battle for control of the state House of Representatives.

The House Democratic Fund raised a little more than $1.06 million over the last quarter of 2023 and have $3.5 million on hand; while the House Republican Campaign Committee raised about $1.01 million and have $4.2 million on hand, according to campaign finance disclosures filed Wednesday.

The fundraising haul for House Democrats set a new fourth quarter record for a non-election year, and brought the caucus' fundraising total for 2023 to $4.4 million.

“Without wavering, our members and supporters have stepped up to keep Democrats in the majority,” Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, said in a statement. “We are carrying this momentum into 2024 and will continue to build on our success.”

House Republicans touted their advantage when it comes to cash on hand and criticized Democrats' unwillingness to share power while the House remains at a 54-54 tie.

"When Republicans win the majority this fall, we’ll bring political balance to state government and give Michiganders the serious representation they deserve," House Republican Leader Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, said in a statement.

The Wednesday filing comes as the parties prepare for an election that could flip control yet again in the Michigan House.

Democrats held a slim 56-54 majority in the House from January through November, before two of their members won elections for mayor in Westland and Warren. The departures left the House in a 54-54 standoff that has allowed for no policy bills to move since the first of the year.

That tie is expected to be broken in April, when special general elections will occur in the two Democratic-leaning districts left vacant.

But Democrats will have to navigate a new hurdle after those elections, lining up candidates to run in new, yet-to-be finalized Detroit House districts that were ordered redrawn by federal judges in December. It's possible some incumbent lawmakers are drawn into the same districts when the maps are given federal approval in late March.

Among House Democrats' largest donors, contributing $48,875 a piece, were Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's Michigan Legacy PAC; abortion rights group Emily's List; Tableau Software founder Chris Stolte and his wife Heidi; Duo Security co-founder Jon Oberheide and his wife Ashley; and Duo Security CEO Dug Song.

The total included several contributions from the leadership PACs of House Democratic members.

Among House Republicans' largest donors, contributing $48,000 each, were two of Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt's leadership funds; ApexHealth CEO Jon Cotton; Joan Secchia, wife of the late Peter Secchia, a longtime West Michigan GOP mega donor; and a Republican-funded committee called the MI Cooperative Unity Partnership PAC.

Keith Crain, chairman of Crain Communication, contributed $25,000 to House Republicans. Mary Crain, the treasurer for Crain Communication, contributed $25,000 to the caucus campaign arm.

Several House GOP leadership PACs also contributed to the caucus' fundraising haul.

eleblanc@detroitnews.com