The Michigan Campaign Finance Network says its analysis finds that $22.9-million has been spent so far by candidates for the state Legislature.
About $12-million has been raised by candidates for state House, while about $10.5-million has gone into the coffers of state Senate candidates.
The Campaign Finance Network says the better-financed candidates were more likely to win the primaries in August. But there were some exceptions, including Aaron Miller who won a four-way Republican primary in the district that includes Saint Joseph County and most of Cass County. Cindy Gamrat won the 80th District GOP primary in the district that includes most of Allegan County, despite being outspent.
But the news release from the Campaign Finance Network notes that much of the money spent in the August primary has yet to be disclosed, and won't be until October. And because of the laws governing some political action committees, some of those donors will never be known by the public.
