Democrats are set to duke it out in expensive open-seat primaries in Michigan and Illinois.
In the race to succeed retiring Sen. Gary Peters in Michigan, State Sen. Mallory McMorrow raked in about $2.1 million in contributions and spent roughly $1.3 million, leaving her with about $827,000 cash on hand. Rep. Haley Stevens raised a total of $2.8 million, of which $1.5 million was transferred from her House campaign. Stevens reported about $2 million cash on hand. And former Wayne County health official Abdul El-Sayed raised about $1.8 million and had $1.1 million cash on hand.
Former Michigan State House Speaker Joe Tate lagged behind the other Democratic candidates, with about $193,000 raised and about $70,000 cash on hand.
On the GOP side, former Rep. Mike Rogers, whom national Republicans have rallied behind, raised about $745,000 through his Senate account and about $779,000 through his joint fundraising committee, “Team Rogers.” Rogers had about $1.1 million cash on hand in his Senate account at the end of the quarter. He was narrowly outraised by Rep. Bill Huizenga, who’s been weighing a bid, who raised about $747,000 into his House campaign account and had roughly $1.4 million cash on hand.
Republicans see Michigan as a top pickup opportunity in next year’s midterm elections. President Donald Trump won the state last year even as Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin defeated Rogers for an open Senate seat.
Over in Illinois, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi led the pack in the brewing primary to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin.
He raised about $2.3 million in contributions through his “Raja for Illinois” committee and transferred $10.2 million from his House account. He’s got $11.8 million cash on hand for what’s expected to be a hotly contested primary in the deep-blue seat where the Democratic primary winner is heavily favored in the general election.
Rep. Robin Kelly raised a total of $2.5 million, of which about $2.2 million was transferred from her House campaign account. Kelly finished the quarter with $2.2 million cash on hand. Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton raised about $1.1 million and had about $666,000 cash on hand at the end of the quarter. Illinois’ billionaire governor J.B. Pritzker is expected to play a role in backing her campaign too.
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