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Michigan

U.S. Senate State-level Ballot measures
current through October 27, 2014 — updates Thursdays
includes preliminary data for most recent week
Who's calling the shots?: State ad wars tracker:
TV ads in 2014 state races
$36.6 million
estimated TV ad spending on
state races in the 2014 cycle
What's behind these numbers?
$4.98
per eligible voter
63,400
times ads ran
$3.5 million primary general Jan. 2014 Nov. Jan. 2014 Nov.

Kantar Media/CMAG monitors TV signals for political advertising nationwide, capturing ads each time they run. Then, using a proprietary formula, it estimates how much placing each ad costs.

Like any estimate, it's imperfect. Here's what it covers, and what it doesn't:

  • Just placement on TV — The estimate only covers TV ads, not other kinds of political messages, such as ads that appear on radio or online. The estimate also only includes how much money a candidate or organization spent to place the ad, not to make it.
  • No local cable — Kantar Media monitors local broadcast TV in all 210 media markets, as well as national network and national cable TV advertising. If an ad runs on a local cable channel, it won't be counted here.
  • Any political ad — Unlike records filed at the Federal Elections Commission, this information includes so-called “issue ads” that mention a Senate candidate but don’t overtly call for the candidate’s election or defeat. Unless run immediately before a primary or general election, issue ad spending does not have to be reported to the FEC.
  • No future ads — Unlike some records from the Federal Communications Commission, it only counts ads that have already run. Future ad buys are not included.
  • Subject to dispute — Since the estimate is based on a formula, it may not exactly reflect what placing the ad actually cost. Think of the cost estimate as a well-informed guess, which can provide useful points of comparison.

Have more questions? Try this FAQ »

close
Governor
$28.8 million
$3.5 million primary general Jan. 2014 Nov. Jan. 2014 Nov.
Democratic Governors Association
est. total $8.9 million
ran 4,746
mixed ads
$2.4 million
targeting Rick Snyder 
R

11,900
negative
$6.4 million
targeting Rick Snyder 
R
Rick Snyder 
R
DONORS
est. total $7.6 million
Michigan Republican Party
$38,200
Wayne D Jones
$13,600
Joseph P Kaiser Iv
$12,600
Charles Michael Kojaian
$12,600
Robert H. Kurnick Jr.
$12,600
Hadas J Bernard
$10,200
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 68% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 4, 2014.
ran 3,796
mixed ads
$2.2 million
targeting Mark Schauer 
D

7,644
positive
$5.4 million
supporting Rick Snyder 
R

Republican Governors Association
ran 13,700
negative ads
est. $6.5 million
targeting Mark Schauer 
D
Mark Schauer 
D
DONORS
Mark Hamilton Schauer
$917,200
Michigan Laborers District Council
$68,000
Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters
$68,000
Service Employees Local 79
$68,000
Michigan Education Association
$61,200
Michigan State Utility Workers Council
$54,000
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 77% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 4, 2014.
ran 4,756
mixed ads
est. $2.6 million
targeting Rick Snyder 
R

Michigan Republican Party
est. total $1.4 million
ran 1,777
negative ads
$1.2 million
targeting Mark Schauer 
D

282
positive
$186,600
supporting Rick Snyder 
R

Independence USA PAC
ran 581
positive ads
est. $1.3 million
supporting Rick Snyder 
R

Michigan Education Association
ran 556
negative ads
est. $491,500
targeting Rick Snyder 
R

Change Agent Consortium
ran 13
negative ads
est. $21,400
targeting Rick Snyder 
R

Supreme court judge
$3.6 million
$3.5 million primary general Jan. 2014 Nov. Jan. 2014 Nov.
SUPREME COURT-ZAHRA SEAT & OPEN SEAT
Michigan Republican Party
est. total $2.3 million
ran 2,485
positive ads
$2.2 million
supporting James Robert Redford 
N

Brian Zahra 
N

David Viviano 
N

146
positive
$97,400
supporting Brian Zahra 
N

Richard Bernstein 
N
DONORS
Richard H Bernstein
$407,400
Gerald Thurswell
$6,800
Barry F Lakritz
$5,000
Robert Liss
$5,000
Michael Serling
$5,000
David S Mittleman
$3,381
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 77% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 22, 2014.
ran 1,811
positive ads
est. $718,600
supporting Richard Bernstein 
N

Brian Zahra, David Viviano 
N
DONORS
Michigan Republican Party
$100,100
Michigan Chamber of Commerce
$30,000
Michigan Health, Hospital Association
$10,000
Charels Becker
$6,800
Charles Becker
$6,800
Tammy Born
$6,800
27 other donors gave $6,800.
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 69% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 22, 2014.
ran 687
positive ads
est. $327,100
supporting Brian Zahra 
N

David Viviano 
N

Center for Individual Freedom
ran 161
positive ads
est. $146,000
supporting Brian Zahra 
N

David Viviano 
N

SUPREME COURT-VIVIANO SEAT
Michigan Republican Party
ran 183
positive ads
est. $104,200
supporting David Viviano 
N

Attorney general
$2.5 million
$3.5 million primary general Jan. 2014 Nov. Jan. 2014 Nov.
Michigan Advocacy Trust
est. total $1.3 million
ran 43
negative ads
$119,300
targeting Mark Totten 
D

690
positive
$1.2 million
supporting Bill Schuette 
R

Bill Schuette 
R
DONORS
Michigan Republican Party
$108,200
Red, Blue PAC
$63,500
Michigan Chamber of Commerce
$44,000
Meijer Inc
$34,000
Michigan Association of Realtors
$34,000
Republican State Leadership Cmte
$34,000
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 68% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 22, 2014.
ran 1,324
positive ads
est. $645,800
supporting Bill Schuette 
R

Mark Totten 
D
DONORS
est. total $435,400
Mark Totten
$65,300
Michigan Education Association
$10,000
Plumbers, Pipefitters Local 190
$10,000
Nancy M Hamilton
$6,800
Delynn Totten
$6,800
Pipefitters Local 636
$6,000
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 77% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 22, 2014.
ran four
mixed ads
$7,720
targeting Bill Schuette 
R

408
positive
$427,700
supporting Mark Totten 
D

Michigan Democratic State Central Committee
ran 101
negative ads
est. $137,200
targeting Bill Schuette 
R

State representative
$865,200
$3.5 million primary general Jan. 2014 Nov. Jan. 2014 Nov.
SENATE DISTRICT 032
Americans for Job Security
ran 371
negative ads
est. $203,800
targeting Stacy Erwin Oakes 
D

Stacy Erwin Oakes 
D
DONORS
est. total $97,700
Ananich Future Fund
$10,000
Plumbers, Steamfitters Local 85
$10,000
United Automobile Aerospace, Agricultural Implement Workers of America / Uaw
$10,000
Michigan Trial Lawyers Association
$5,500
Whitmer Leadership Fund
$5,000
Lawrence Crawford
$2,000
Six other donors gave $2,000.
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 60% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 4, 2014.
ran 11
positive ads
$4,590
supporting Stacy Erwin Oakes 
D

143
negative
$47,700
targeting Ken Horn 
R

116
positive
$45,400
supporting Stacy Erwin Oakes 
D

Ken Horn 
R
DONORS
Dte Energy
$13,000
Cms Energy
$12,600
Michigan Beer, Wine Wholesalers Association
$7,000
Michigan Jobs Fund
$6,000
Michigan Association of Realtors
$5,400
Randy Richardville Leadership Fund
$5,000
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 77% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 4, 2014.
ran 231
positive ads
est. $86,800
supporting Ken Horn 
R

Hardworking Americans Committee
ran 14
negative ads
est. $13,600
targeting Stacy Erwin Oakes 
D

Michigan Jobs and Labor Foundation
ran 10
positive ads
est. $6,600
supporting Ken Horn 
R

HOUSE DISTRICT 085
Michigan Education Association
ran 170
negative ads
est. $69,300
targeting Ben Glardon 
R

Michigan House Democratic Fund
ran 212
mixed ads
est. $58,600
targeting Ben Glardon 
R

Michigan House Republican Campaign Committee
ran 30
mixed ads
est. $8,800
targeting Annie Braidwood 
D

HOUSE DISTRICT 091
Michigan Education Association
ran 166
negative ads
est. $43,800
targeting Holly Hughes 
R

Holly Hughes 
R
DONORS
Holly Hughes
$65,000
Nesbitt Majority Fund
$2,750
Yonker Leadership Fund
$2,000
Associated Builders, Contractors of Michigan
$1,000
Bern Bolema
$1,000
Karen Bolema
$1,000
16 other donors gave $1,000.
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 77% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 4, 2014.
ran 159
positive ads
est. $40,100
supporting Holly Hughes 
R

Collene Lamonte 
D
DONORS
est. total $34,300
Greimel for Michigan
$7,000
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers / Ibew
$6,650
Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters
$6,200
Michigan List
$5,500
Dillon Majority Fund
$5,250
Michigan Education Association
$5,000
Three other donors gave $5,000.
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 68% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 4, 2014.
ran 132
mixed ads
$29,300
targeting Holly Hughes 
R

40
negative
$5,050
targeting Holly Hughes 
R

HOUSE DISTRICT 061
John Fisher 
D
DONORS
John Fisher
$1,000
Andrew Kemple
$1,000
Lawrence Ulmer
$1,000
Martha Ulmer
$1,000
Meredith Ulmer
$1,000
Kalamazoo County Democratic Party
$750
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 60% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 4, 2014.
ran 405
positive ads
est. $88,800
supporting John Fisher 
D

House Republican Campaign Committee
ran 25
mixed ads
est. $4,210
targeting John Fisher 
D

HOUSE DISTRICT 099
Bryan Mielke 
D
DONORS
Isabella County Democratic Party
$3,698
American Federation of State County, Municipal Employees / Afscme
$3,000
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers / Ibew
$3,000
Mi Regional Council of Carpenters U.
$3,000
Federation of Teachers
$1,500
Michigan Education Association
$1,500
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 77% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 4, 2014.
ran 238
mixed ads
est. $71,700
targeting Kevin Cotter 
R

House Republican Campaign Committee
ran 26
mixed ads
est. $10,200
targeting Bryan Mielke 
D

HOUSE DISTRICT 071
Theresa Abed 
D
DONORS
est. total $60,200
Greimel for Michigan
$7,000
Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters
$6,500
Michigan Trial Lawyers Association
$5,500
Michigan List
$5,000
United Automobile Aerospace, Agricultural Implement Workers of America / Uaw
$5,000
Michigan Beer, Wine Wholesale Assoc
$3,500
One other donor gave $3,500.
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 68% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 4, 2014.
ran 26
negative ads
$4,250
targeting Tom Barrett 
R

309
positive
$56,000
supporting Theresa Abed 
D

House Republican Campaign Committee
ran 78
mixed ads
est. $18,700
targeting Theresa Abed 
D

HOUSE DISTRICT 056
Michigan Democratic State Central Committee
ran 71
mixed ads
est. $49,600
targeting Jason Sheppard 
R

House Republican Campaign Committee
ran 24
mixed ads
est. $5,140
targeting Tom Redmond 
D

HOUSE DISTRICT 076
Winnie Brinks 
D
DONORS
Progressive Womens Alliance of West Michigan
$10,000
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers / Ibew
$6,400
Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters
$6,000
Dillon Majority Fund
$5,650
Greimel for Michigan
$5,000
Michigan Auto Workers
$5,000
Two other donors gave $5,000.
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 68% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 4, 2014.
ran 279
positive ads
est. $51,900
supporting Winnie Brinks 
D

HOUSE DISTRICT 066
Annie Brown 
D
DONORS
Annie Brown
$12,200
American Federation of State County, Municipal Employees / Afscme
$3,000
Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters
$3,000
Michigan Education Association
$1,500
Jeff Filbrandt
$1,000
Margaret Filbrandt
$1,000
Three other donors gave $1,000.
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 77% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 4, 2014.
ran 100
positive ads
est. $25,300
supporting Annie Brown 
D

HOUSE DISTRICT 098
Michigan Democratic State Central Committee
ran 37
negative ads
est. $9,520
targeting Gary Glenn 
R

HOUSE DISTRICT 060
Jon Hoadley 
D
DONORS
Michigan Nurses Association
$3,000
Equality Michigan
$2,850
Michigan Education Association
$2,500
Gay, Lesbian Victory Fund Institute
$2,000
Inspire Michigan
$2,000
Kalamazoo Alliance for Equality PAC
$2,000
One other donor gave $2,000.
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 77% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 4, 2014.
ran 10
positive ads
est. $3,410
supporting Jon Hoadley 
D

HOUSE DISTRICT 034
Sheldon Neely 
D
DONORS
Sheldon Neeley
$6,000
American Federation of State County, Municipal Employees / Afscme
$5,000
Operating Engineers Local 324
$2,000
Preketes
$850
Clyde Edwards Jr.
$500
Michael Harris
$500
Four other donors gave $500.
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 60% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 4, 2014.
ran 20
positive ads
est. $2,550
supporting Sheldon Neely 
D

HOUSE DISTRICT 003
Carron Pinkins 
D
DONORS
Carron Pinkins
$8,599
Barbara Rose-Collins
$1,000
Sheila Vann
$750
Jamal Singh
$700
Jason Williams
$543
Gerome Pinkins
$500
One other donor gave $500.
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 60% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 4, 2014.
ran 15
positive ads
est. $800
supporting Carron Pinkins 
D

State senator
$853,700
$3.5 million primary general Jan. 2014 Nov. Jan. 2014 Nov.
SENATE DISTRICT 020
Margaret O'Brien 
R
DONORS
est. total $180,100
Margaret E Obrien Campaign Cmte
$35,100
Michigan Association of Realtors
$14,300
Comm-Pac
$10,000
Randy Richardville Leadership Fund
$10,000
Tonya Schuitmaker for Majority
$10,000
Michigan Association of Health Plans
$7,600
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 75% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 4, 2014.
ran 312
mixed ads
$77,400
targeting Sean McCann 
D

87
mixed
$34,300
targeting Sean McCann 
D

Lorence Wenke 
L

247
positive
$68,400
supporting Margaret O'Brien 
R

Sean McCann 
D
DONORS
est. total $159,700
Ananich Future Fund
$20,000
Senate Democratic Fund of Michigan
$13,100
United Automobile Aerospace, Agricultural Implement Workers of America / Uaw
$12,000
Genesee 2020 PAC
$10,000
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers / Ibew
$9,250
Rebekah Warren Envision Michigan PAC
$7,000
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 77% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 4, 2014.
ran 341
negative ads
$116,400
targeting Margaret O'Brien 
R

145
positive
$43,400
supporting Sean McCann 
D

Lorence Wenke 
L
ran five
positive ads
est. $4,580
supporting Lorence Wenke 
L

SENATE DISTRICT 017
Dale Zorn 
R
DONORS
est. total $124,200
Randy Richardville Leadership Fund
$20,000
Dte Energy
$5,300
Michigan Farm Bureau
$5,000
Cms Energy
$4,500
Michigan Association of Health Plans
$3,650
Mi Bankers Assn / Bankpac
$3,500
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 75% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 4, 2014.
ran 112
mixed ads
$30,000
targeting Doug Spade 
D

269
positive
$94,200
supporting Dale Zorn 
R

Hardworking Americans Committee
ran 101
negative ads
est. $51,100
targeting Doug Spade 
D

Michigan Democratic State Central Committee
ran 27
negative ads
est. $5,400
targeting Dale Zorn 
R

SENATE DISTRICT 034
Goeff Hansen 
R
DONORS
Health Care Association of Michigan
$11,500
Michigan Jobs Fund
$10,000
Michigan Association of Health Plans
$9,000
Cms Energy
$8,500
Health Plan of Michigan
$7,500
Michigan Association of Realtors
$7,300
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 68% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 4, 2014.
ran 265
positive ads
est. $85,900
supporting Goeff Hansen 
R

SENATE DISTRICT 028
Peter MacGregor 
R
DONORS
Peter F MacGregor Campaign Cmte
$74,000
Michigan Health, Hospital Association
$11,800
Peter F MacGregor
$11,400
Michigan Dental Association
$10,800
Michigan Beer, Wine Wholesalers Association
$7,015
Meijer Inc
$7,000
Source: National Institute on Money in State Politics data — includes 75% of reports; includes reports as recent as September 4, 2014.
ran 200
positive ads
est. $40,700
supporting Peter MacGregor 
R

SENATE DISTRICT 002
Taras Nykoriak 
D
ran seven
positive ads
est. $1,840
supporting Taras Nykoriak 
D

current through October 27, 2014 — updates Thursdays
includes preliminary data for most recent week
Who's calling the shots?: Ballot measures:
TV ads in 2014 state ballot measure races
$3.8 million
estimated TV ad spending on
ballot measures in the 2014 cycle
What's behind these numbers?
52 cents
per eligible voter
7,965
times ads ran
$439,500 election election Jan. 2014 Nov. Jan. 2014 Nov.

Kantar Media/CMAG monitors TV signals for political advertising nationwide, capturing ads each time they run. Then, using a proprietary formula, it estimates how much placing each ad costs.

Like any estimate, it's imperfect. Here's what it covers, and what it doesn't:

  • Just placement on TV — The estimate only covers TV ads, not other kinds of political messages, such as ads that appear on radio or online. The estimate also only includes how much money a candidate or organization spent to place the ad, not to make it.
  • No local cable — Kantar Media monitors local broadcast TV in all 210 media markets, as well as national network and national cable TV advertising. If an ad runs on a local cable channel, it won't be counted here.
  • Any political ad — Unlike records filed at the Federal Elections Commission, this information includes so-called “issue ads” that mention a Senate candidate but don’t overtly call for the candidate’s election or defeat. Unless run immediately before a primary or general election, issue ad spending does not have to be reported to the FEC.
  • No future ads — Unlike some records from the Federal Communications Commission, it only counts ads that have already run. Future ad buys are not included.
  • Subject to dispute — Since the estimate is based on a formula, it may not exactly reflect what placing the ad actually cost. Think of the cost estimate as a well-informed guess, which can provide useful points of comparison.

Have more questions? Try this FAQ »

close
1: Realign industrial taxes
$2.8 million
$439,500 election Jan. 2014 Nov. Jan. 2014 Nov.
Michigan Citizens for Strong and Safe Communities
ran 6,743
TV ads
est. $2.8 million
advocating for Yes
1&2: Authorize wolf hunting season
$1 million
$439,500 election Jan. 2014 Nov. Jan. 2014 Nov.
Keep Michigan Wolves Protected
ran 1,222
TV ads
est. $1 million
advocating for No

Source: Center for Public Integrity analysis of Kantar Media/CMAG, National Institute on Money in State Politics data
What's behind these numbers?