LANSING — Democratic candidates in 17 of the state's 20 most competitive House and Senate races have more cash on hand than their Republican opponents, a Detroit News review of candidates' campaign finance reports show.
As the parties fight for control of the chambers, the individual fundraising numbers give a peek at the enthusiasm building behind some candidates ahead of the November election and reveal Republicans' reliance on caucus spending in some of the most competitive House races.
Republicans currently hold a 58-52 majority in the state House, while Democrats hold a 20-18 majority in the state Senate.
State Sen. Darrin Camilleri, D-Trenton, touted the fundraising success of Democratic candidates for the Legislature. He contended the hauls represented outreach to small donors, as candidate committees face smaller giving limits than caucus and political action committee accounts.
"Democrats are energized," Camilleri said. "We have always put an emphasis on grassroots fundraising."
House Republicans, whose campaign committee has outraised House Democrats' by about $3 million, argued the individual candidate fundraising disparities reflect a difference in campaign strategy. Republicans are coalescing cash in their caucus campaign account, instead of with individual candidates, to direct to the most vulnerable seats.
"This week alone, we reserved more than $3 million in television advertising while House Democrats reserved nothing," said Gus Portela, communications director for the House Republican Campaign Committee. "We are confident in our candidates, our strategy and the resources we have to protect and grow our majority."
House Democrats were encouraged by the fundraising and argued that Michigan voters would hold Republicans accountable for "chaos" at the federal level and Republican House Speaker Matt Hall's "failure to get anything done in Lansing."
"There's real momentum behind Democratic House candidates across Michigan, and we're seeing it both on the ground and in the financial support these campaigns are receiving," said Amber Gantt, a spokesperson for the Michigan House Democratic Fund.
The House Republican Campaign Committee reported having $7.85 million cash on hand at the end of July, while the Michigan House Democratic Fund reported roughly $4.7 million cash on hand. The Senate Republican Campaign Committee reported having $7.9 million cash on hand in late July, while the Senate Democratic Fund reported $5.4 million.
Of the 20 races reviewed by The News, Democratic candidates in 12 of the 14 House races outraised their competitors and Democratic candidates in five of the six Senate races outraised their competitors.
The 20 seats reviewed were largely chosen based on the close margins — in some cases, less than a percentage point of difference — in the 2022 state Senate elections and the 2024 state House elections. The cash on hand numbers for each candidate were based on reported totals in the candidates' Sept. 3 post-primary campaign finance reports.
In Battle Creek's 44th House District race, Republican state Rep. Steve Frisbie of Pennfield Township is attempting to hold onto his seat against Democratic former state Rep. Jim Haadsma of Battle Creek after winning his 2024 race by a razor thin margin. With Trump at the top of the ticket in 2024, Frisbie flipped the seat with a 79-vote margin over Haadsma.
In their most recent reports, Frisbie reported having $100,254 cash on hand and Haadsma reported having $157,801.
In Oakland County's 54th House District, Republican Roman Gaskey and Democrat Sarah Pounds, both of Lake Orion, are fighting to replace Republican state Rep. Donni Steele, who is running for a Senate seat.
The district is considered 50/50 Republican-Democrat; Steele of Orion Township won her seat as an incumbent in 2024 by nearly 5 percentage points.
Gaskey disclosed having $3,212 on hand in his Sept. 3 campaign finance report while Pounds reported having $103,349 on hand.
In Monroe County's 31st House District, which includes parts of Lenawee, Monroe, Wayne and Washtenaw counties, Republican Laura Perry of Dundee and Democrat Shannon Dare Wayne of Milan are battling to win a seat left empty by state Rep. Reggie Miller, who is not seeking re-election.
Miller of Van Buren Township won her 2024 election by a little more than a percentage point.
In their most recent campaign finance filings, Perry reported having $99,052 cash on hand and Wayne reported having $91,257 cash on hand.
In mid-Michigan's 35th Senate District race, Democratic Sen. Chedrick Greene of Saginaw is being challenged by Republican Jason Tunney of Saginaw Township just a few months after Greene won a special election for the seat against Tunney.
Greene won his May special election against Tunney by nearly 19 percentage points, but it's not yet clear how that margin will hold up in a traditional November general election.
On Sept. 3, Greene reported having $157,699 on hand while Tunney had $20,852.
In the 12th Senate District, which includes parts of Macomb, Wayne and St. Clair counties, Democratic state Sen. Kevin Hertel of St. Clair Shores is attempting to maintain his seat against a challenge by Republican John Goldwater of New Baltimore.
Hertel won his seat in 2022 by a third of a percentage point over Republican former state Rep. Pam Hornberger of Chesterfield.
In his most recent campaign finance report, Hertel reported having $356,282 cash on hand, while Goldwater reported having $6,535 on hand.
In the 9th Senate District, which includes parts of Oakland and Macomb counties, Republican state Sen. Michael Webber is attempting to maintain his seat against a challenge from Democrat Theresa Brooks.
Webber won his seat in 2022 by less than a percentage point.
In the most recent campaign finance reports, Webber reported having about $275,999 cash on hand while Brooks reported having $52,017 on hand.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Democrats in key state legislative races tout more cash than Republicans