MONEY GAME

Financial disclosures for money raised in the second quarter of the year have just been released, with some senatorial candidates crowing in joy, and others not quite blasting their horn. On the Democratic side, state Senator Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak, Birmingham, Detroit) announced in a video, along with her preschool-aged daughter, grinning and wearing heart-shaped sunglasses, “This is unbelievable. We just closed the first quarter of our campaign since launching in April and we have raised more than $2.1 million… And you know what I’m most proud of? We got donations from all 83 counties in Michigan.” She said she received over 28,000 donations from all 50 states, with 97 percent less than $100. Further, her communications director Andrew Mamo said a recent Brewery Tour, designed for McMorrow to “sit down and have a beer with people because Mallory is really a policy person at heart,” had 500 people turn out over two days, and 2,000 people over the four stops. A second Brewery Tour is planned. Former Wayne County Health Director Abdul El-Sayed said he raised $1.8 million, with 95 percent of his donations less than $100. In a direct dig at Oakland County Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham), he claimed that “groups like AIPAC are waiting for us to release these stats,” as Stevens has received the backing of the pro-Israel PAC over several cycles, including in this race. Stevens, who raised $2.5 million this quarter, also said the majority of her contributions – 93 percent – were less than $100. However, of the amount raised, $1.2 million is a transfer from her U.S. House campaign account, revealing she actually raised $1.3 million this quarter since she announced her candidacy. “I’m honored to have received the support of so many Michiganders to win this Senate seat,” she said in a statement. “I will continue to stand against the Trump administration’s chaos and reckless policies and do what I have always done: fight for Michigan and win for Michigan.”