LANSING – Challengers in state races across the Upper Peninsula have raised very little money to mount a campaign with the exception of the 108th State Representative race in the south central U.P.
Democratic challenger Grant Carlson of Iron Mountain raised $58,269 to take on State Rep. Ed McBroom of Vulcan. McBroom, however, raised $104,173 for his third campaign. The candidates were required to submit their financial records with the Secretary of State’s office last Friday.
Going into the final week of the campaign, McBroom still has $76,361 on hand while Carlson has $26,315.
Neither John Kivela in the 109th District or Scott Dianda in the 110th District have opponents with much money. Kivela of Marquette raised $21,795 and has $8,980 on hand for the final week of his campaign. His Republican challenger, Pete Mackin of Marquette raised only $1,900 and has just over $600 for the final week.
Dianda of Calumet raised $107,056 and has $34,104 on hand. His Republican opponent, Bob Micheals of Ironwood raised no money for his campaign.
In the 107th District in the eastern U.P. and northern lower peninsula, Republican Lee Chatfield of downstate Levering raised $139,042. Most of the money was used during the primary to defeat State Rep. Frank Foster of Petoskey. Chatfield reported having $12,746 left for the campaign. The Democrat candidate, Jim Page of Sault Ste. Marie raised $28,485 and has $5,145 going into the last week.
State Sen. Tom Casperson of Escanaba raised $303,378 for his re-election campaign. He still has $112,800 left. That’s because his Democratic opponent, Christopher Germain of Escanaba, raised only $3,765 total. He still reports having $1,197 left going into the final week of the campaign.