Always Follow the Money: Largest donors in State Representative races in West Michigan
Campaign Finance data for candidates for State Representative seats in the West Michigan was as expected.
- In contests where one candidate raised no funds or very little, their opponent also raised a lower amount, but enough for mailers and other Get Out the Vote efforts.
- Candidates from both parties relied heavily on contributions from Political Action Committees, funds set up by other politicians, and their county partisan headquarters.
- The DeVos family members and one their associates contributed to 3 of the 10 State Representative races in West Michigan. The small numbers is in part due to races where the Democratic opponent did not raise money (4 of the 10 races), thus the DeVos family did not need to contribute or because the seats have been controlled by the Democrats for multiple election cycles. As we have noted on many occasions, the DeVos family is despicable, but they are not dumb.
- There were also several GOP and Democratic Party candidates which listed over $100,000 for media buys, which ran on local TV and cable services in this region. In fact, more money was spent on media buys than on anything else.
78th District State Representative
Leah Groves (D)
No funds raised
Gina Johnsen (R)
Largest Contributors:
- Ionia County GOP – $3000
- Borton Leadership – $500
- Granger PAC – $500
- Auto Dealers of MI – $500
- MI Farm Bureau PAC – $500
79th District State Representative
Kimberly Kennedy-Barrington (D)
Largest Contributors:
- UAW Region 1D – $3000
- Barry County Democratic Committee – $500
Angela Rigas (R)
Largest Contributors:
- Maddock Leadership Fund – $6500
- Beeler Majority Fund – $6000
- Meerman Majority Fund – $1500
- David Herrema – $1050
80th District State Representative
Phil Skaggs (D)
Largest Contributors:
- Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters – $5450
- Brixie Blue Wave Fund – $5000
- American Federation of State County – $5000
- Kent County Democratic Party – $5000
- End Citizens United. – $1000
- West MI Progress PAC – $1000
- Progressive Women’s Alliance – $1000
Jeffrey Johnson (R)
Largest Contributors:
- Kent County Republican Committee – $5000
- Michigan Farm Bureau – $3000
- House Republican Campaign Committee – $2066
- Meerman Majority Fund – $1500
- Dick DeVos, RDV Corp – $1050
- Betsy DeVos, RDV Corp – $1050
- Pamela DeVos, RDV Corp – $1050
- Dan DeVos, RDV Corp – $1050
- Suzanne DeVos, RDV Corp – $1050
- Doug DeVos, RDV Corp – $1050
- Maria DeVos, RDV Corp – $1050
- Steve Ehmann, RDV Corp – $1050
81st District State Representative
Rachel Hood (D)
Largest Contributors:
- The PAC for America’s Future MI – $10,500
- Julie Brixie Blue Wave Fund – $10,050
- Kent County Democratic Party – $7750
- Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters – $7000
- MEA PAC – $6750
- American Federation of State County – $6000
- Progressive Women’s Alliance – $5000
- Grand Rapids Firefighter’s Union – $5000
Lynn Afendoulis (R)
Largest Contributions:
- Wentworth Majority Fund – $10,500
- Wentworth Majority Fund 2 – $10,500
- Friends of Matt Hall PAC – $10,500
- Friends of Matt Hall Majority Fund – $10,500
- Kent County Republican Committee – $10,000
- TGIF Victory Fund – $10,000
- Michigan Oil & Gas PAC – $5000
- Small Business PAC – $3000
- Dick DeVos, RDV Corp – $1050
- Betsy DeVos, RDV Corp – $1050
- Pamela DeVos, RDV Corp – $1050
- Dan DeVos, RDV Corp – $1050
- Suzanne DeVos, RDV Corp – $1050
- Doug DeVos, RDV Corp – $1050
- Maria DeVos, RDV Corp – $1050
- Steve Ehmann, RDV Corp – $1050
82nd District State Representative
Kristian Grant (D)
Largest Contributors:
- Brandon Dillon – $500
- Noah Klugman – $250
All other donations were $100 or less, with only 25 contributions listed.
Ryan Malinoski (R)
No Funds raised in this campaign finance cycle.
83rd District State Representative
John Fitzgerald (D)
Largest Contributors:
- Kent County Democratic Party – $10,500
- The PAC for America’s Future MI – $10,500
- Brixie Blue Wave Fund – $10,000
- Michigan Education Association – $7000
- Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters – $5000
Lisa DeKryger (R)
Largest Contributors:
- Friends of Matt Hall PAC – $10,500
- Wentworth Majority Fund – $10,500
- TGIF Victory Fund – $10,000
- Kent County Republican Committee – $5000
- Dick DeVos, RDV Corp – $1050
- Betsy DeVos, RDV Corp – $1050
- Pamela DeVos, RDV Corp – $1050
- Dan DeVos, RDV Corp – $1050
- Suzanne DeVos, RDV Corp – $1050
- Doug DeVos, RDV Corp – $1050
- Maria DeVos, RDV Corp – $1050
- Steve Ehmann, RDV Corp – $1050
84th District State Representative
Carol Glanville (D)
Largest Contributors:
- The Julie Brixie Blue Wave Fund – $9000
- The PAC for America’s Future MI – $5500
- Progressive Women’s Alliance – $4500
- Kent County Democratic Party – $2750
- West MI Plumbers, Fitters & Service – $2500
- Grand Rapids Firefighters Union PAC – $2000
Mike Milanowski Jr. (R)
Largest Contributors:
- TGIF Victory Fund – $10,000
- Wentworth Majority Fund – $5000
- Kent County Republican Committee – $5000
- Small Business Association of MI – $4500
- Realtors PAC of Michigan – $3500
- Michigan Farm Bureau PAC – $3000
- Meerman Majority Fund – $2000
89th District State Representative
Sharon McConnon (D)
No funds raised
Luke Meermen (R)
Largest Contributors:
- Matt Hall Majority Fund – $10,500
- Ford the American Road – $1500
- CMS Energy Employees for Better Gov. – $1250
- Centene Corporation PAC – $1000
- Altria Group PAC – $1000
90th District State Representative
Meagan Hintz (D)
No funds raised
Bryan Posthumus (R)
Largest Contributors:
- Auto Dealer of MI – $3050
- Rock Holdings PAC – $2500
- ABC PAC – $1500
- Michigan Laborers Political League – $1000
- Michigan Educational Partners PAC – $1000
- CMS Energy Employees for Better Gov. – $500
91st District State Representative
Tammy DeVries (D)
No funds raised
Pat Outman (R)
Largest Contributors:
- Friends of Matt Hall PAC – $10,500
- 4th District republican Committee – $5000
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of MI PAC – $5000
- Ionia County Republican Committee – $1500
- Michigan Petroleum Association PAC – $1000
- Michigan Oil & Gas Association PAC – $1000
Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy 
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