ESCANABA – Financial reports for state candidates in the Upper Peninsula show a significant advantage for incumbents. Candidates were required to file post-primary reports with the Secretary of State’s office by Thursday, Sept. 4.
108th State Representative District
The closest race financially is in the 108th State Representative District. State Rep. Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan, has $59,277 on hand for the general election in November compared $27,641 raised by his Democratic opponent Grant Carlson of Iron Mountain.
McBroom raised nearly $10,919 since the August primary and spent $6,386 during the same period. Carlson raised $5,920 since the primary and spent about $1,804.
This district is only considered mildly competitive. McBroom won re-election in 2012 by 9 percent.
Other challengers have not yet raised a significant amount of money.
38th State Senate District
Heading into the general election in November, State Sen. Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba, has $132,832 on for his re-election campaign. He raised $22,393 since the August primary and spent $24,845.
His Democratic opponent Christopher Germain of Escanaba has $170 on hand as of Thursday’s filing. He raised $1,130 since the August primary when he beat challenger Chris LaMarche of Gladstone. Germain spent $1,520 during the same period.
110th State Representative District
State Rep. Scott Dianda, D- Calumet, has $43,909 for his re-election campaign. He raised $10,220 since the August primary and spent $8,809 during the same period.
His Republican opponent Bob Micheals of Ironwood raised no money, spent no money and has no money on hand for his campaign. He did list $139.98 as an in-kind contribution and expenditure.
109th State Representative District
In the 109th District, State Rep. John Kivela, D-Marquette, did not have a post-primary report filed with the Secretary of State’s office by Thursday. He also missed the pre-primary report by three days and paid a $25 late filing fee. At that time, he had $9,021 on hand.
His Republican opponent Pete Mackin of Marquette has on hand $50.31 to mount his campaign against Kivela. Mackin raised no money since the primary and spent only $64 during the same period.
No incumbents are on the November ballot in the eastern U.P.
107th State Representative District
After defeating State Rep. Frank Foster in the August primary, Republican Lee Chatfield of Levering has $11,136 on hand for the general election in the 107th District. He has raised $19,459 since the primary and spent $23,720.
His Democratic opponent Jim Page of Sault Ste. Marie raised $4,330 since the primary and spent $268. He has $4,606 on hand for the general election.
Foster, R-Petoskey, had a total of $69,140 on hand by the pre-primary filing. Since the primary, Foster raised $30,975. He showed expenditures of $93,237 during the same period leaving $6,878 in his account.
The 107th District includes Chippewa and Mackinac Counties in the eastern U.P.
37th State Senate District
Contested primaries in the 37th State Senate District depleted coffers for the winning candidates in both parties.
State Rep. Wayne Schmidt, R-Traverse City, in his bid for the State Senate raised $94,025 since the primary and spent $156,841. He now has $9,517 on hand for the general election. He has raised $407,256 for the entire election cycle so far.
Phil Bellfy of Sault Ste. Marie raised $3,525 since the primary. He spent $2,555 during the same period. He has $2,681 on hand for the general election. He raised $10,730 for the entire election cycle.
The 37th Senate District includes Luce, Chippewa and Mackinac Counties in the eastern U.P.