Why It Matters

For Michigan Action Fund, an Allen Park-based super PAC, is directing its independent expenditures toward supporting Democratic candidates and opposing Republicans in Michigan's congressional and U.S. Senate races ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. Its largest investment supports Democrat William Lawrence in Michigan's 7th District House race, with additional spending focused on the state's open Senate seat and other congressional contests. ​

With less than a week until Election Day, the committee is concentrating its resources on races attracting substantial spending from national Democratic and Republican organizations. Its spending favors advertisements supporting Democratic candidates over advertisements attacking their Republican opponents, reflecting an electoral strategy focused primarily on promoting Democratic campaigns.

The committee has no public-facing website or mission statement. Inside Political Money has reported that it spent money supporting Abdul El-Sayed and opposing Mike Rogers. The committee lists FOR MICHIGAN as its affiliated organization and David Hecker of Huntington Woods as treasurer.

As a super PAC, the committee can accept unlimited contributions and make unlimited independent expenditures but cannot coordinate those expenditures with candidates or their campaigns.

What It Spends

For Michigan Action Fund's independent expenditures total a reported $735,138 as of Oct. 28, with approximately $593,000 supporting Democrats and $142,000 opposing Republicans. Support accounts for about 81% of the reported total. The committee's largest investment is in Michigan's 7th District, followed by the open U.S. Senate race.

Candidates supported include:

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  • William Lawrence (D), Michigan's 7th District: $287,000. Lawrence faces Rep. Tom Barrett (R-MI-7) in a Toss-up race.
  • Abdul El-Sayed (D), Michigan U.S. Senate: $146,716. The seat is open, and the race leans Democratic. Mike Rogers is the Republican nominee.
  • Sean McCann (D), Michigan's 4th District: $87,000. McCann faces Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI-4) in a Toss-up race.
  • Christina Hines (D), Michigan's 10th District: $47,000. The 10th is an open seat rated Toss-up.
  • Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI): $11,250.
  • Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI): $11,401.95.

Candidates opposed include:

  • Michael J. Rogers (R): $49,500.
  • Rep. Thomas More Barrett (R-MI): $47,653.11.
  • Rep. William P. Huizenga (R-MI): $11,371.25.
  • Michael Bouchard (R): $11,250.
  • Terri DeBoer (R): $11,250.
  • Thomas Smith (R): $11,250, according to an earlier independent-expenditure compilation. The Political Group

The committee has spent more supporting Lawrence alone than opposing all Republican candidates combined. Its expenditures include both positive advertising for Democratic candidates and negative advertising against Republicans in the same races.

The Ad Buy

AL Media LLC, a media firm that places digital and television ads, received payments to advertise for Lawrence, El-Sayed, McCann, and Hines. Reported expenditures include:

  • Oct. 22: $165,000 for connected-TV and digital ads supporting Lawrence.
  • Oct. 15: $41,000 for digital ads supporting Lawrence.
  • Oct. 22: $40,000 for connected-TV ads supporting McCann.
  • Oct. 15: $36,000 for digital ads supporting El-Sayed.
  • Oct. 24: $35,000 each for connected-TV ads supporting Hines and McCann.

Original Print Shoppe received a reported $7,818.12 on Oct. 23 for posters and Arabic-language literature supporting El-Sayed and $6,315.48 on Sept. 16 for posters supporting his campaign. The Arabic-language literature indicates an effort to reach Arabic-speaking voters in a state with a substantial Arab American population, although the filing does not establish the materials' content or geographic distribution.

The records described identify no Federal Communications Commission broadcast advertising purchases for the committee.

Who Funds It

Strategic Victory Fund IE PAC, another super PAC, is the committee's largest reported funder, contributing $352,000, approximately 71% of its $493,147 in reported receipts through Oct. 14. For Michigan, the committee's affiliated organization has reportedly contributed $78,000 across multiple transfers. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, contributed a reported $50,000.

Together, the three sources account for approximately 97% of reported receipts, indicating that the committee's financial backing is concentrated among another political committee, its affiliated organization, and organized labor. The AFSCME contribution links the committee's funding to a union representing public-sector workers, though the contributions alone do not show that the union directs its spending decisions.

The committee reported $493,147 in receipts, $756,990 in disbursements and $252,169 in cash on hand through Oct. 14, according to a secondary compilation of FEC financial records. Its spending exceeded receipts during the reporting period, although its cash balance reflects funds carried forward from earlier periods.

Other Spenders in the Same Races

In Michigan's 7th District, Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF) has reportedly spent $9.62 million opposing Lawrence, House Majority PAC (HMP) has spent $8.87 million opposing Barrett and $294,000 supporting Lawrence, and Safety & Affordability PAC Inc. has spent $4.17 million opposing Lawrence. For Michigan Action Fund, the reported $335,000 in combined spending is considerably smaller than the national committees' expenditures, but it adds direct support for Lawrence alongside spending against Barrett.

In Michigan's Senate race, Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) PAC has reportedly spent $41.49 million opposing El-Sayed and $1.08 million supporting Rogers. WINSENATE has spent $26.94 million opposing Rogers and $9.72 million supporting El-Sayed, while No Going Back PAC Inc. has spent $26.06 million opposing El-Sayed and $6.67 million supporting Rogers. Michigan Action Fund's reported $197,000 in the race, split between supporting El-Sayed and opposing Rogers, is a comparatively small addition to the extensive outside spending on both sides.

You can explore more about this committee's filings at Legis1.com.

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