MI-GOV: Michigan gubernatorial funding over $25M, on pace to resemble state's most expensive elections
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s first bid for the governor’s office in 2018 against Republican stalwart Bill Schuette reached record fundraising and spending, outpacing the previous high in 2006 when Dick Devos’ mega billions gave then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm a literal run for her money.
But the money already raised in the 2026 gubernatorial race shows that it could be on pace to get close to the record-breaking fundraising and spending totals seen in 2006, which saw nearly $80 million in spending, and 2018, which exceeded $90 million.
Year-end 2025 campaign finance reports aren’t due until the end of January, which will detail fundraising between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 while also wrapping up the contribution and spending totals for the previous year.
But the public campaign finance data available over two quarters of fundraising and spending, up until October, show that donors have given more than $25 million to Michigan’s gubernatorial primary candidates and the lone independent candidate, Mike Duggan, who is already playing like he’s in a general election.
https://michiganadvance.com/2026/01/02/michigan-gubernatorial-spending-over-25m-on-pace-to-resemble-states-most-expensive-elections/
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