Follow the Money: Realtors PAC and Rental Property Owners Association of Kent County contributions to candidates to insure a market-driven housing practice

This is the third and final article where we look at entities that are making substantial campaign contributions to people at the state level for the upcoming Primary Election in August and the November 2024 Election. 

In the past week GRIID has looked at which candidates are receiving funding from the Grand Rapids Police Officers Association and the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce PAC and what that means for policy issues in Grand Rapids and across the state. Today, I want to look at the Michigan Realtors PAC and the Rental Property Owners Association of Kent County. 

In 2022, GRIID noted that the Michigan Realtors PAC and the Rental Property Owners Association of Kent County contributed tens of thousands of dollars to candidates with the intent of insuring that those who promote a market-driven housing framework will be able to maintain that, in light of the growing housing justice movement in West Michigan and across the state.  Last fall, the Rent is Too Damn High Coalition brought out 500 people to protest the housing crisis in Michigan and to present a list of demands that certainly threaten a market-driven housing reality.

2024 Campaign Contributions from the Michigan Realtors PAC

According to the Michigan Secretary of State’s Campaign Finance data for this quarter, the Michigan Realtor’s PAC made 126 separate contributions. Here is a list of some of the larger contributions and contributions to West MI candidates:

• Michigan Senate Democratic Fund – $25,000
• Michigan House Democratic Fund – $25,000
• Senate Republican Campaign Committee MI – $15,000
• House Republican Campaign Committee MI – $15,000
• Michigan Forward Fund – $5,000
• Brinks Victory Fund – $2,500
• Kristian Grant – $1,000
• Grant Leadership Fund – $1,000
• Mark Huizenga – $1,000
• Bryan Posthumus – $1,000
• Albert Majority Fund – $1,000
• Carol Glanville – $1,000

All of this makes sense when you consider that the Democrats control the State Legislature, so naturally they would receive the highest amounts. It is also important to note that Rep. Kristian Grant is the Chair of the recently formed Housing Committee, which is why the Realtors PAC threw money at her.  

2024 Campaign Contributions from the Rental Property Owners Association of Kent County

The amounts that the Rental Property Owners Association of Kent County are naturally smaller than the Realtor’s PAC, since they are primarily interested in influencing policy in Kent County. However, this year they are making contributions to candidates outside of the county, especially considering that issues like Rent Control and a Renters Bill of Rights are part of what the Rent is Too Damn High Coalition is pushing for.

According to the Michigan Secretary of State’s Campaign Finance data for this quarter, the Rental Property Owners Association of Kent County made only 5 separate contributions.

• Michigan House Democratic Fund – $1,000
• Kristian Grant  – $250
• Stefanie Chang – $250
• House Republican Campaign Committee – $250
• Sylvia Santana – $250

These numbers will go up before the August Primary and the November General Election, but again, it is clear that the campaign contributions from the Rental Property Owners Association of Kent County are strategic and targeted. GRIID will certainly follow the money in the upcoming campaign finance reporting deadlines later this summer and fall, so that people can see how those with deep pockets are influencing public policy in Michigan.