Why It Matters
TFM, a Detroit-based super PAC, reported $5.67 million in outside spending in the 2026 Michigan U.S. Senate race, putting $4.16 million against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and $1.52 million supporting Republican Mike Rogers. TFM has spent about 2.74 times as much opposing El-Sayed ($4.16 million) as it has supporting Rogers ($1.52 million).
The group's "Who We Are" page describes it as Democrats "who support Mike Rogers for the U.S. Senate" who want to work with him to find common ground and build a positive future for Michigan. Truthout reported on Oct. 16 that Republican donors funded the group, and the Detroit News reported on Oct. 17 that the source of money paying for anti-El-Sayed ads remained unclear. A super PAC can raise and spend unlimited sums but cannot coordinate with a candidate's campaign.
TFM's total outside spending of $5.67 million is about 67 times its total receipts on file of $84,065, as of Sept. 30. That gap between what the committee has raised on paper and what it has spent outside makes the funding picture the central question for anyone tracking this race.
What It Spent
All of TFM's spending targets the open Michigan U.S. Senate seat, rated Lean Democratic, where El-Sayed and Rogers advanced from the Aug. 4 primaries ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. TFM spent $4.16 million opposing El-Sayed and $1.52 million supporting Rogers.
The committee's financial summary shows how thin its formal fundraising base is relative to its spending footprint. Through Sept. 30, TFM reported $84,065 in total receipts, $55,454.71 in total disbursements, and $28,611 in cash on hand.
Who Funds It
TFM's supplied financial summary lists $84,065 in receipts, $55,454.71 in disbursements, and approximately $28,611 in cash on hand through Sept. 30.
Two Republican-aligned political organizations accounted for most of the reported contributions. GLCF Inc. contributed $50,000; Truthout identified it as pro-Rogers. American Unity PAC Inc. contributed $25,000 and advocates for Republican candidates who support LGBTQ rights. Together, the two organizations provided $75,000, approximately 89% of the committee's reported receipts.
Four individuals also contributed: Alex Saharaovich gave $5,000, William Orgel gave $2,500, Michael Sandler gave $1,000, and Corey Trotz gave $261. The named contributions total $83,761, leaving $304 of the reported receipts unaccounted for in the contributor list provided.
The Ad Buy
The bulk of TFM's spending came in a single burst on Oct. 9, when three payments opposing El-Sayed totaled $3.20 million: $2.59 million to EMG Media Group, Inc. for media placement, $600,000 to River Road Digital LLC for digital media and text messages, and $16,000 to Genesis Advertising LLC for digital advertising.
The same day, TFM paid EMG Media Group $647,000 for media placement supporting Rogers and River Road Digital $400,000 for digital media and text messages supporting Rogers. Oct. 9 alone therefore accounted for the overwhelming share of the committee's total outside spending.
On Oct. 19, EMG Media Group received $414,000 for media placement and production opposing El-Sayed. On Oct. 20, River Road Digital received $289,000 for digital media and text messages opposing El-Sayed.
EMG Media Group handles media placement and production on both sides of the race; River Road Digital handles digital and text-message ads on both sides. JLB Strategies LLC handled door-hanger work supporting Rogers and received $79,000 on Oct. 16 and $48,000 on Oct. 13.
Other Spenders in the Same Races
The supplied analysis identifies several larger outside-spending operations, including the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF PAC), which spent $36.5 million opposing El-Sayed and $1.5 million supporting Rogers. The United Democracy Project spent $20.5 million opposing El-Sayed and $10.5 million supporting Haley Stevens, who lost the Democratic primary. No Going Back PAC Inc. spent $24.5 million opposing El-Sayed and $5.3 million supporting Rogers.
You can explore more about this committee's filings at Legis1.com.
Access the Legis1 platform for comprehensive political news, data, and insights.
Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article
