Always Follow the Money: Campaign contributions from the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce PAC

Over the next week or so, GRIID will be posting articles about campaign financing, since the most recent deadline for filing was October 25. Most of the campaign contributions are for the 2024 Elections, but it is never too early to think about which organizations and which members of the Capitalist Class are seeking to influence both the outcome of the 2024 Elections and public policy that will be proposed by those elected.

Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce PAC 

The Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee, also known as Friends of West Michigan Business, is one of the most influential groups in Michigan, in terms of electoral and policy influence.

Their campaign contributions based on the most recent quarterly reports can be found here. There are only 13 listings for payouts from the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce during this most recent campaign finance reporting, with 2 fees, which leaves 11 different contributions. Those contributions are, in order of amount given:

• Victory Values Fund $2,000
• Committee to Elect David Moore II $1,000
• Senate Republican Campaign Committee $1,000
• House Republican Campaign Committee $1,000
• Huizenga for Michigan Leadership $500
• VanWoerkom Solutions PAC $500
• Committee to Elect Maurice Groce $500
• Grant Leadership Fund $250
• House Republican Campaign Committee $250
• Gina Johnson $150
• Meerman Majority Fund $150

For the partisan races, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce has contributed to all Republicans except for the Grant Leadership Fund, which is named after State Representative Kristian Grant. The Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce has historically given the bulk of campaign contributions to the GOP, but they sometimes contribute to Democrats, such as Kristian Grant this campaign finance reporting session or Carol Glanville, whose they contributed to in the previous campaign finance session. 

I always find it puzzling why the Democratic Party or Democratic candidates would accept funds from the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, which is not only pro-business, they are against anything that gets in the ways of profit making. For example, right now, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce is part of an alliance called the Great Lakes Growth Coalition, which is opposing even the most modest economic policies that the Whitmer Administration is putting forward. And since the Democratic Party deeply relies on campaign contributions from organized labor, why in the world would they accept money from the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce or any business association?

The other two contributions are for candidates running for Kentwood City Commission seats, David Moore II and Maurice Groce. Groce is running against Lily Cheng-Schulting, who has run as a Democrat in multiple state races previously. Groce is also the current academy liaison officer for the West Michigan Aviation Academy, a charter school founded by Dick DeVos. David Moore is a freelance writer and holds a degree in biblical studies. Like we saw in the Grand Rapids City Commission race in 2022, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce is backing pro-business candidates in non-partisan races.