SECRETARY OF STATE $$$

The invisible step-child of 2026’s election fundraising are for the open secretary of state and attorney general posts. Wildly less glamorous than senator, governor and numerous congressional races, which are decided by primary voters on August 4, 2026, both the Republican and Democratic candidates for secretary of state and attorney general are chosen by delegates at their state conventions: March 28, for the GOP, and April 19 for Dems. That is not stopping candidates running for office – current Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel are term limited – and raising money to convince delegates and prepare for a hopeful general election. Democratic candidate-in-search-of-an-office Adam Hollier – who pivoted from running against Congressman Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit) after unsuccessfully attempting to run against him in 2022 and 2024 to run for SOS – had the largest third quarterly haul of the three Democrats running, raising $348,000 in six weeks, with $344,557 cash on hand. Far behind was Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum, who raised $69,200 and has nearly $103,700 cash on hand. Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie – who jumped into the race last January – brought in $73,200 this quarter and has just $34,600 in the bank. On the GOP side, attorney and Clarkston Community School Board Trustee Amanda Love raised $124,000 this last quarter, including a loan to her campaign of about $52,800, and had a balance of $105,600 cash on hand. Also seeking the Republican nod is self-promoter Monica Yatooma of Oakland County, who raised almost $108,000 and has about $82,300 still in the bank. Also looking to be the GOP Secretary of State candidate is Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini, who raised $53,000 and has almost $50,000 cash on hand.