Fifteen of 20 Michigan State Senate committee chairs raised less money than the average member this cycle

By

Kalyn Stralow

Elections for all 38 seats in the Michigan State Senate took place on Nov. 8, 2022. Republicans held a 22-16 majority heading into the election.

Committee chair fundraising

State legislative committee chairs set a committee’s legislative agenda. Some committee chairs raise significantly more money than their non-chair counterparts in the state legislature. The average amount raised by delegates who did not serve as a committee chair was $382,445. The funds raised by each of the State Senate’s 20 committee chairs are shown below.

  • Advice and Consent Committee – Aric Nesbitt – $1,284,510
  • Communications and Technology Committee – Michele Hoitenga – $250,267
  • Economic and Small Business Development Committee – Ken Horn – $48,771
  • Education and Career Readiness Committee – Lana Theis – $392,102
  • Education Committee – Pamela Hornberger – $392,290
  • Elections Committee – Ruth Johnson – $191,115
  • Energy and Technology Committee – Dan Lauwers – $98,165
  • Energy Committee – Joseph Bellino – $257,158
  • Environmental Quality Committee – Rick Outman – $172,945
  • Families, Seniors, and Veterans Committee – John Bizon – $93,450
  • Finance Committee – Jim Runestad – $124,492
  • Health Policy and Human Services – Curt VanderWall – $458,414
  • House Regulatory Reform Committee – Roger Hauck – $468,830
  • Insurance and Banking Committee – Lana Theis – $392,102
  • Judiciary and Public Safety Committee – Roger Victory – $105,600
  • Local Government Committee – Dale Zorn – $96,175
  • Natural Resources Committee – Ed McBroom – $185,216
  • Senate Agriculture Committee – Kevin Daley – $226,590
  • Senate Appropriations Committee – Jim Stamas – $279,850
  • Senate Government Operations Committee – Mike Shirkey – $17,400
  • Senate Oversight Committee – Ed McBroom – $185,216
  • Senate Regulatory Reform Committee – Aric Nesbitt – $1,284,510
  • Transportation and Infrastructure Committee – Tom Barrett – $80,020

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that active Michigan PACs submitted to the Michigan Secretary of State. Political expenditures that are not controlled by candidates or their campaigns, known as satellite spending, are not included in candidate totals. Federal PACs are not required to report to state agencies. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines.

This article is a joint publication from Ballotpedia and Transparency USA, who are working together to provide campaign finance information for state-level elections. Learn more about our work here.