LANSING, Mich. — A California movie director, a Nevada politician, a Hawaii architect and a rancher from Montana provided four of the more than 90,000 contributions that resulted in a record fundraising haul for Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s reelection campaign over the first seven months of 2022.
From Jan. 1, through July 17, donors from every state gave money to support Whitmer, helping the Democrat raise $9.5 million, a total that’s nearly triple what the last two incumbent Michigan governors raised over a similar time frame.
The donation total reflects the national spotlight that’s been on Whitmer over the last two years as she has governed a battleground state during a global pandemic and was considered as a potential running mate for President Joe Biden.
Her fundraising haul shows “instant viability” if she decides to run for president herself one day because of her ability to reach a national donor base, said David Dulio, a political science professor at Oakland University.
“It’s a pretty stunning report,” Dulio said.
Whitmer is running for a second term as governor in November with five Republican candidates seeking their party’s nomination to challenge her.
Of the $9.5 million Whitmer’s campaign reported raising so far this year, about $5.6 million or nearly 60% came from individuals or political action committees that listed Michigan addresses, according to a Detroit News analysis.
About $3.9 million or 41% came from donors from the 49 other states or jurisdictions. Contributors from California chipped in about $956,000, followed by $463,000 from individuals or groups from New York and about $239,000 that flowed from Texas.
Her out-of-state donors included director Steven Spielberg of Los Angeles, who gave $7,150, the maximum an individual can contribute to a candidate for governor under Michigan law.
Microsoft executive Bradford Smith of Washington state, investor Donald Sussman of Florida and billionaire businessman Dirk Ziff of New York also each gave the maximum to Whitmer’s reelection effort, according to the new report.
Gustavo Portela, communications director for the Michigan Republican Party, said with each new fundraising disclosure, it’s becoming clearer that Whitmer is “continuing to increase her national profile to run for president.”
“Before she thinks about that race, Michiganders strongly believe our state is headed in the wrong direction, and it’s thanks to the policies she’s put in place,” Portela said. “Instead of focusing on her national profile, she should focus on the problems Michiganders elected her to solve that she’s yet to like fixing our damn roads and now delivering the relief that she’s consistently stood in the way of these last few months.”
Whitmer, a former state lawmaker, won her first term as governor in 2018 by 9 percentage points over Republican Bill Schuette, who was then the state’s attorney general.
For that election cycle, Whitmer’s campaign brought in about $12.3 million.
As of July 17, 114 days before Election Day, Whitmer’s campaign had collected about $29.3 million for the 2022 cycle.
117 fundraisers
Whitmer’s latest campaign finance disclosure revealed the governor’s campaign has benefited from 117 fundraisers in 2022. However, it’s unclear how many of those events Whitmer personally attended.
The functions included a “Silicon Valley” event in California that generated $23,850 in March, a May event in Denver that spurred $11,350 in contributions and a lunch in San Francisco that raised $8,292.
On June 30 — the day the Legislature convened to approve next year’s $76 billion budget — Whitmer’s campaign had an event on Mackinac Island that raised $27,000.
The fundraiser was described in her new campaign finance disclosure as “Musser event,” referring to the family that once owned the Grand Hotel.
On May 5, the Whitmer campaign had a Blue Cross Blue Shield event in Detroit that produced $217,075 in contributions. Blue Cross Blue Shield is the state’s largest insurer. Daniel Loepp, the organization’s president and CEO who is considered a political mentor to the governor, gave $7,150 to Whitmer on May 2, according to a disclosure.
Whitmer’s father, Richard Whitmer, previously served as president and chief executive officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and she’s faced criticism over the years for her close ties with the insurer.
Seven days after the Blue Cross fundraiser, Whitmer’s campaign had a “Parfet event” on May 12. The address of that function was the same one used in campaign filings by William Parfet of Hickory Corners, co-founder of MPI Research and one of the top contributors to former Republican Gov. Rick Snyder’s political efforts.
That event raised $74,800.
William Parfet has previously contributed to Whitmer’s reelection campaign. His wife, Barbara, gave $7,150 on May 12, according to the new disclosure.
Celebrities and billionaires
Well-known business and entertainment personalities were also featured in Whitmer’s list of more than 90,000 individual contributions.
When it comes to celebrities, Spielberg, who directed “Jurassic Park” and “Jaws” and his wife, actress Kate Capshaw, each gave $7,150 in March.
Another famous filmmaker, Rob Reiner of California, donated $2,500 that same month. Reiner directed “A Few Good Men” and “The Princess Bride.”
Fashion designer Thomas Ford of Los Angeles gave $7,500 to Whitmer’s campaign in February. In March, the campaign refunded him $350 because his contribution was over the $7,150 individual giving limit.
Among the business leaders who supported Whitmer were Allen Blue, a co-founder of LinkedIn, who gave $5,000, and Jeff Lawson, CEO of the tech company Twilio, who gave $7,150.
Two members of the family that founded retailer Walmart also gave to Whitmer’s campaign. James Walton provided $6,000 while Christy Walton provided $5,000. Both listed an address in Arkansas, where the company has its headquarters.
A member of another billionaire family, Jonathan Soros, CEO of JS Capital Management LLC, gave $7,150 in February.
Elaine Wynn of Los Angeles — who co-founded Wynn Resorts with former husband Steve Wynn, a Republican mega donor — chipped in $2,500 for Whitmer’s campaign.
When it comes to political figures, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, a Democrat, gave $1,000 in March, and Albert Gore III, son of former Vice President Al Gore, contributed $2,500 in June.
How the total compares
Whitmer’s campaign reported having $14.7 million in cash still available as of July 18.
Among the five-candidate GOP primary field, businessman Kevin Rinke of Bloomfield Township, who supplied $10 million of his own money for his campaign, had the most available: $4.2 million.
Conservative commentator Tudor Dixon of Norton Shores had $537,899 cash on hand, and chiropractor Garrett Soldano of Mattawan reported having $332,096 available. The other two Republican candidates, real estate broker Ryan Kelley of Allendale and Pastor Ralph Rebandt of Farmington Hills, each had less than $40,000.
In a statement on Friday, the Whitmer campaign said its filing showed “broad grassroots support.”
“Our campaign is proud to have the support of Michiganders in every single county as Gov. Whitmer keeps working with anyone to deliver on kitchen table issues that matter most,” said Maeve Coyle, the campaign’s communications director.
At the same point before the 2014 election, in which Republican Rick Snyder sought a second term as Michigan’s governor, his campaign had $4.7 million on hand, about a third of Whitmer’s total. Snyder’s campaign reported raising $3.3 million from Jan. 1, 2014, through July 20, 2014, about 35% of Whitmer’s haul.
In 2006, when Democratic then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm was seeking a second term, her campaign had about $7.2 million available at a similar point. She raised $3.3 million through July 23 that year.
