GIVE BACK

In her latest Federal Election Commission (FEC) filing on September 30 following her Senate primary loss, it was revealed that Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham, Oakland County) refunded $75,885 to donors, of which $39,385 was returned to individual contributors, while $36,500 went back to PACs. Is Stevens done with politics or does she just have a particularly generous heart? The actual reason comes down to federal law. Many donors preemptively donate the maximum amount for both the primary and general elections before the primary, only to have the candidate required to return the general election portion if they don’t survive the August contest. “I have to return money that went to the general election since I didn’t win the primary. Many donors contribute $7,000 max which is $3,500 for the primary and $3,500 for the general. I legally have to return any amount over $3,500 that a donor gave to my campaign because that went to a general election that I didn’t make,” Stevens explained to Oakland Confidential. As for stepping away from politics? Not a chance. She said she is keeping her leadership PAC, and has spent time with both former President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton “separately who encouraged me to stay involved in Democratic politics and to strengthen the party for years to come.” Stay tuned.