2020 general election
Michigan Senate
The candidate who raised the most money won.
$186M was spent on the 2020 Michigan Senate race: $99M raised by the campaigns, $4.0M of it from PACs, plus $87M from outside groups (FEC filings through Dec 31, 2020). Gary Peters (Democrat) won and was the top fundraiser.
Total money
$186M
Raised by campaigns
$99M
PAC checks
$4.0M
Outside money
$87M
Candidates
Raised by the campaign Outside money supportingOutside money attacking Democrat Republican Other
Gary PetersDemocrat, incumbent
✓ Won- Raised
- $50M
- Spent
- $50M
- From individuals
- $45M
- From PACs
- $3.1M
- From party
- $3K
- Own money & loans
- $0
- Outside money for
- $9.8M
- Outside money against
- $38M
Who paid: 6% of Peters's money came from PACs
Corporate $1.3M (43%)Trade group $459K (15%)Leadership PAC $454K (15%)Membership $171K (6%)Union $274K (9%)Super PAC $59K (2%)Party $3K (0%)Other $339K (11%)
- Valley Electric Association Inc., PAC Trade group$19K
- Henry Ford Health System Government Affairs Services PAC Corporate$16K
- Paul Hastings LLP Political Action Committee Other$13K
- National Association of Broadcasters Trade group$13K
- Ebay, Inc. Corporate$12K
- The Grant Thornton LLP Political Action Committee LLC Other$11K
- Progressive Women's Alliance of West Michigan Other$11K
- The Capital Group Companies, Inc. Corporate$10K
Biggest outside spenders
- Senate Leadership Fund · $17M attacking
- Better Future Mi Fund · $9.6M attacking
- NRSC · $8.2M attacking
- Black PAC · $3.1M supporting
- Restoration PAC · $1.1M attacking
John JamesRepublican
✗ Lost- Raised
- $49M
- Spent
- $48M
- From individuals
- $46M
- From PACs
- $873K
- From party
- $0
- Own money & loans
- $0
- Outside money for
- $6.8M
- Outside money against
- $33M
Who paid: 2% of James's money came from PACs
Corporate $173K (11%)Trade group $109K (7%)Leadership PAC $289K (19%)Membership $76K (5%)Super PAC $364K (24%)Party $50K (3%)Other $478K (31%)
- Winred Super PAC$320K
- Senate Conservatives Fund Other$194K
- Co-Pilot Committee Other$171K
- Young Victory Committee Party$45K
- Susan B Anthony List, Inc. Other$18K
- Black America's Political Action Committee Super PAC$13K
- Seal PAC Supporting Electing American Leaders PAC Other$13K
- Oorah! Political Action Committee Leadership PAC$10K
Biggest outside spenders
- Senate Majority PAC · $29M attacking
- Americas PAC · $2.2M supporting
- Nea Advocacy Fund · $1.5M attacking
- Americans for Prosperity Action · $835K supporting
- Senate Conservatives Fund · $698K supporting
Plus 3 other candidates on the ballot with no reported money.
Questions people ask
- How much money was spent on the 2020 Michigan Senate race?
- $186M was spent on the 2020 Michigan Senate race: $99M raised by the campaigns, $4.0M of it from PACs, plus $87M from outside groups (FEC filings through Dec 31, 2020). Gary Peters (Democrat) won and was the top fundraiser.
- Who raised the most money in the 2020 Michigan Senate race?
- Gary Peters (Democrat) raised $50M and had $9.8M in outside spending on their side.
- Which outside groups spent the most on the 2020 Michigan Senate race?
- Senate Majority PAC ($29M), Senate Leadership Fund ($17M), Better Future Mi Fund ($9.6M).
- Which PACs gave the most to candidates in the 2020 Michigan Senate race?
- Winred gave $320K to John James; Senate Conservatives Fund gave $194K to John James; Co-Pilot Committee gave $171K to John James.