Follow the Money: DeVos and other members of the Grand Rapids Power Structure are some of the largest political donors in Michigan in 2024

“My family is the largest single contributor of soft money to the national Republican Party. I have decided to stop taking offense at the suggestion that we are buying influence,” she wrote. “Now I simply concede the point. They are right.”  Betsy DeVos wrote in a 1997 editorial for Roll Call

We are just hours away from the November 5th election, but I wanted to provide one last bit of campaign finance information. According to the online source transparencyusa.org, there are 14 people from West Michigan, many of whom are part of the Grand Rapids Power Structure, which are in the top 50 of those who have contributed the most to campaign committees and candidates in Michigan To see the complete list go to this link.

I am listing the following people from West Michigan, with their number in the ranking of top contributors, followed by their name and the amount of campaign money they have contributed.

6. Maria & Doug DeVos – $$1,055,400.00

9. Daniel DeVos – $869,550.00

14. Suzanne Cheryl DeVos – $737,900.00

17. Daniel Hibma – $646,780.76

20. Mark Meijer – $553,500.00

23. J.C. Huizenga – $526,600.00

24. Betsy DeVos – $520,025.00

31. Richard Hayworth – $436,275.00

35. John Kennedy III – $350,425.00

37. Hendrik Meijer – $350,000.00

38. Douglas Meijer – $350,000.00

44. Richard M. DeVos Jr.  – $296,175.50

48. Michael Jandernoa – $278,225.00

50. Richard M. DeVos Sr. – $269,450.00

Now, there are two additional things to know about this list. First, this is political money going to State level races and Political Action Committees, which means it does not include federal races and local county and city races. 

Second, if you go to this link and then click on any of the names I have listed above, you can also see which candidates and PACs these individuals contributed to. Virtually all of the people listed gave their money to Republican committees or Republican candidates. The only exceptions are the three Meijer brothers. Most of the money went to the Meijer PAC, which has given to both Republicans and Democrats in 2024.

It is safe to say when it comes to campaign funding for State offices and Political Action Committees in Michigan, the Capitalist Class from West Michigan wields more political influence within Michigan than any other part of the state.