Democratic 7th U.S. House District candidate Curtis Hertel Jr. emerged from the third quarter of the 2024 campaign cycle having outraised and outspent his Republican opponent, Tom Barrett, in a contest that’s one of the most watched in the country.
Per Federal Election Commission reports filed before the midnight Tuesday deadline, Hertel finished out the quarter with $2.2 million on hand and spent $3.4 million. His campaign raised $2.3 million during the quarter.
Barrett has $1.34 million on hand with 21 days until Election Day, but also had a more frugal quarter, spending $1.29 million since July 18. His campaign brought in $1.4 million during the third quarter.
Over the whole cycle so far, Barrett has spent $2.9 million to Hertel’s $4.3 million. The two have been locked in an advertising battle in the Lansing media market in recent weeks, trading barbs about helicopters and normality as Election Day nears.
The candidate spending is a fraction of total spending that includes millions from outside groups. Some $35 million total has been spent or reserved so far, according to data from AdImpact — $19 million for Hertel to $16 million for Barrett.
In the 10th District, incumbent U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township) leaves the third quarter with $2.5 million on hand, having spent $2.85 million against $1.34 million in total receipts.
James’s opponent, Democrat Carl Marlinga, said in a statement that James’s strong fundraising position relies on “out-of-state billionaires and corporate PACs, but we know the real power lies with the people of this district.”
Marlinga, whose 2022 campaign against James was largely abandoned by national Democrats, has seen a markedly different level of support this time around. In Q3, he pulled in $1.6 million in total receipts, of which he spent $393,710.21, heading into the remaining weeks of the cycle with $1.3 million.
“This campaign is fueled by the hard-working people of Michigan’s 10th District,” Marlinga said in a statement. “Together, we are building a movement that rejects extremism and fights for the values of affordable healthcare, good-paying jobs, and protecting our democracy. I am incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from thousands of Michiganders who are ready for change.”
Outside spending is helping both James and Marlinga, according to AdImpact, with $8.3 million spent or reserved by or on behalf of Marlinga since the primary to $7.4 million for James.
In the 8th District, Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) emerged from the quarter with the higher amount of cash on hand, reporting $1.6 million heading into the final weeks of the cycle. Her campaign has spent $2.1 million since mid-July against $2.98 million in total receipts for the quarter.
Trailing behind as the home stretch begins is her Republican opponent, Paul Junge, who ended the quarter with $444,087.80 on hand, having spent $2.16 million since July 18 after pulling in $2.27 million in total receipts.
Junge also reported loaning $1.85 million to his campaign during the quarter, bringing his total campaign contributions in personal loans to $3.85 million for the cycle to date.
In the 3rd District, Republican Paul Hudson took a hit this quarter, finishing out with just $154,877 on hand after spending $404,932 and bringing in $253,774. He was easily outraised and outspent by his Democratic opponent, incumbent U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids), who finished the quarter with $1.82 million after spending $1.97 million in a race that seems to be slipping away from Republicans.
– By Lily Guiney
